We the undersigned call on Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney to resign their ministerial posts, and their posts as MSPs.

We knew before Storm Arwen hit that there would be damage. That’s what a red warning from the Met Office is all about. It means serious risk to life and property.

The storm hit, and wiped out most of the rural power grid, leaving 10s of 1000s of people without power, and a sizable amount of them without water, telephone, internet or mobile phone communication.

People were left to fend for themselves. Even care homes were left with no power, and some, without the basics like water for toilets or for consumption.

They put 10s of 1000s of lives at serious risk of severe injury, severe illness, or death.

The SNP did this by doing nothing and hoping the problem would quietly go away.

They carried on with their party conference using Zoom. It could easily have been delayed for a week or two until this was over.

At the end of the conference, Nicola Sturgeon made two televised speeches.

The first was a Covid update, in which she blubbered on for an hour, telling us nothing we didn’t already know from the media.

The second, two hours later, was her televised conference speech that was all about separation.

Not once in either speech did she even mention the storm damage, nor the people left desperate because of it.

On Tuesday, John Swinney was sent into to the chamber to face questions from party leaders. Nicola Sturgeon didn’t consider it worthy of her time. Perhaps it wasn't a big enough photo opportunity for her? Or perhaps she's hiding from the people she abandoned? Who knows?

On Wednesday, John Swinney was sent to the Northeast to meet carefully chosen locals who wouldn’t give him too hard a time.

To date, they haven’t even convened the resilience committee that was set up years ago for dealing with disasters like this.

Swinney claimed they were doing everything they could. What have they actually done? We haven't heard of anything they have actually done other than token talk and a brief visit. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Boris Johnstone offered them military help, and as far as we are aware, he hasn’t even had the courtesy of a reply.

In the northeast, we have:
One Battalion from the Royal Regiment of Scotland at Fort George, who have 4 wheel drive vehicles and other mobile facilities/equipment that could be used.

The 39 Engineer Regiment at Kinloss Barracks, who have all terrain vehicles, heavy plant, and 4x4s.

Several squadrons at RAF Lossiemouth who can muster 4 wheel drives and mobile equipment from the base.

Each and every one at those working at those bases would have jumped at the chance of volunteering to help, and been out there, working round the clock. Hundreds of them, if not all of them, would have stepped forward.

What could they have done?

Set up field kitchens to provide hot meals and drinks to locals.

Deliver meals and hot drinks to those unable to get to a kitchen hub.

Checking on, and supporting the elderly and disabled.

Setting up generators for care homes and other essential sites.

Helping get running water back to care homes, etc, either from the mains, their own wells, or from Scottish Water tankers.

Transport people who couldn’t stay at home, into hotels.

Helped clear access for SSEN engineers and linesmen.

Help the engineers and linesmen with the groundwork such a running out cables, replacing downed poles, etc.

And more, much more.

Much is being made by her supporters about this being a reserved matter.

It most certainly is not. Disaster response is 100% within the remit of Hollyrood, including requesting military assistance.

But the SNP deem none of that as necessary.

Its time for Surgeon and Swinney to resign. They have gone way too far this time. They abandoned people when they were at their most vulnerable. They put 1000s of lives at serious risk, including children, the elderly, and the disabled.

Lastly, we’d like to thank the local SSEN engineers and linesmen, and the engineers and linesmen from all over the UK that came to help, for all the work they’ve done, and continue to do. And also other agencies such as the police, ambulance, fire fighters, volunteers, and Scottish Water, who worked round the clock to help those in need. Heroes, every one.