A disgraceful appointment.

Appalling failures in political leadership and public service management, coupled with a total breakdown in governance and accountability. The cost? Innocent lives. This is an absolute scandal.

Two serious failures by this minister: 1. Did not read his briefing material before appearing at a parliamentary committee; 2. Subsequently claimed he had not been briefed on the issue. Not fit for office, or any significant role in public life.

A taboo indeed. The Scottish social, political and educational elites only want to discuss 'more powers' for a dire set of instititions in a failed project.

And also perhaps point out that the UK aligns itself with states including Germany, Italy, Spain, France and the USA, which do not allow seccession of any of their component elements.

These people are professional activists and campaigners. They have no interest in, or aptitude for, the work of government. Holyrood is full of them, and that is a major factor in its failure.

Further evidence of the compromised nature of the civil service in Edinburgh, as party and state steadily merge in the devolved polity.

This increasingly ridiculous institution plumbs new depths each week.

Is it wasn't already very clear, today's appearances by the Transport Minister at the Scottish Parliament, and the NHS Tayside CEO at this inquiry, provide evidence of the paucity of leadership talent in Scottish public service. The overpromotion of mediocrities comes at a cost.

The CEO accepts only the weakest form of accountability - providing answers. Amending faulty processes, redressing grievances, and accepting punishment sanctions for failures are the stronger forms of accountability, which she apparently eshews.

The abject quality of ministerial 'talent' in the Scottish Government on full display yet again. If this minister's comments to the committee are even partly accurate, we also have more evidence of the dire state of the civil service in Edinburgh. Depressing, but not surprising.

Indeed. One of the early products of the devolved polity. It ranks high in the extensive catalogue of devolution's failures.

With @johnconnolly747 looking forward to publication of our book 'The UK Labour Party and the Governance of Regional Inequalities: From Opposition to Government'. Historical and comparative perspectives, lessons from the Starmer Govt's failure. Out with @Palgrave in November.

A very odd document. Replete with vacuous platitudes. Only a passing reference to the fact that the organisation is part of the wider civil service. No critical reflections on leadership or performance. It gradually becomes clear that the target readership is its own staff.

Given the levels of incompetence on both the political and administrative sides of the Scottish Government, this is entirely believable.

And not so well played, Sue Gray, who apparently tried to block Jack and Sunak ...

More centralisation in an already heavy centralised statelet, coupled with a focus on structural change to the exclusion of leadership improvements, culture and performance. How not to do public sector reform.

Perhaps all of the above, to varying degrees? The organisational culture is increasingly moulded by a perceived need to appease each of the vested interests you list.

Another telling indication of dysfunctional governance.

Yes. We have behavioural, cultural and competence problems as well as serious institutional and structural issues ...