Humza Yousaf’s era as First Minister has begun in a way that many of us predicted it would.

The disasters that he failed to get a grip of as Health Secretary look like they’re only going to worsen.

One devastating example of this continued failure are the latest cancer waiting times that were published a few weeks ago.

They revealed that almost one in three cancer patients in Scotland were not treated within the Scottish Government’s own target period of 62 days.

From October to December 2022, only 71.2 per cent of eligible patients started treatment within that targeted timescale.

In other words, patients were asked to wait longer than they should have and, therefore, were failed.

Of course, the SNP are not only a failing government. They are also a party that, at the moment, find themselves in total disarray.

It seems that, with every day that goes by, another detail about the internal workings of the SNP is revealed to the public.

And with every detail that comes out, more questions are raised.

You only have to read what some SNP insiders have said recently to know that all is not well in the party’s hierarchy.

We have heard descriptions of a “menacing atmosphere” and people complaining of being shut down for asking questions.

Frustratingly, this is all taking place in the midst of an ongoing cost-of-living crisis and a crisis in our NHS.

At a time when our communities need more support than ever before, the SNP have decided to focus on themselves more than what the country needs.

On a brighter note, I recently attended a ‘Knit and Natter’ session at Giffnock Library.

I had heard many great things about this community group and wanted to see it in action for myself.

There were several things that struck me about my visit.

Firstly, it was clear how important community groups are and will continue to be as we all try to navigate ourselves away from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and through the cost-of-living crisis.

Social isolation is a huge problem faced by too many people but the sense of community and friendship that important groups like Knit and Natter offer will be an essential way to reduce it.

These brilliant social networks need all the support they can get and that comes first and foremost from funding – something the SNP have decided to starve local authorities of in recent years.

Labour-led East Renfrewshire Council has been a last line of defence against the savage cuts imposed on local authorities from Edinburgh.

Services supporting our communities and reducing social isolation must be protected and enhanced.

Scottish Labour is the party that is focused on doing that, while the SNP tears itself apart.