Sunday's opinion page pieces concentrated on the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow and the state of the NHS in Scotland. Here is The Herald’s pick of those editorials.

Sunday Mail

It's leader said the right to protest during the COP26 global summit in Glasgow is "essential in a free and democratic society" but warned there are "limits to what is acceptable".

In its commentary headlined 'Thugs won't take forward climate agenda', the paper warned that "unprovoked and mindless violence against police officers, or anyone else for that matter, is not protest, it is just old-fashioned thuggery".

"Private messages between members and associates of Extinction Rebellion have called for police staying at a city hotel to be used as 'target practice', the leader said.

"Another sinister online post called for 'sacrificial action'.

"The vast majority of decent people who will take to the streets to make their voices heard should distance themselves from this moronic minority.

"They do nothing to further the cause -violence and destruction will move everyone further away from a sustainable future."

The Herald: Climate protest sign. Picture: Pixabay

The Sunday Times 

Its leader said that COP26 has engaged public opinion on climate change "more than ever before".

Only a few outliers now question whether global warming is man-made. People accept the reality, and they are increasingly prepared to adapt their behaviour.

"Sales of electric vehicles and hybrids are surging and last month accounted for more than half of new car sales. People are debating the merits of heat pumps and other low-carbon energy sources. A new funding mechanism for the building of new nuclear power stations has been officially proposed.

"People are inspired by the likes of Sir David Attenborough, more so than by any politician. Even if Glasgow does not achieve its aims, the climate message is getting through and there is momentum for concerted action. And that is the most important thing.

Mail on Sunday

Ruth Davidson said the NHS in Scotland needed help as it was "beginning to fail" after NHS Lothian issued an all-points bulletin telling people 'do NOT come to the emergency department unless it is life-threatening'.

She said the fact such warnings are being broadcast by individual health boards "should not come as a surprise when the national picture is so poor".

The former Scottish Conservatives' Scottish Parliament leader said: "It seems every time a 'new low' for emergency waiting times is recorded, we just need to wait for the next set of figures for that record to be broken.

NHS Lanarkshire moved to a Code Black risk level last week and, along with NHS Borders, has already drafted in the Army to help, she pointed out.

NHS Grampian and NHS Ayrshire and Arran have put in requests for the same, which the Ministry of Defence is working to fulfil.

Both NHS Lothian and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde - Scotland's largest health authority - say they are considering asking for military assistance.

Doctors, nurses, paramedics and other medical staff have spent the best part of two years battling a pandemic while watching other services suffer. They have worked wonders and nobody doubts their commitment or professionalism. But they need help," she said.

In August, the SNP published a 'recovery plan' for the NHS, claiming it set out a strategic road map back to health for the service. Much of the document was made up of previous targets or promises, not a reaction to Covid at all.

Opposition parties'charges that it was a 'thin and flimsy pamphlet' were supported by criticism from the British Medical Association, which branded the measures as 'unrealistic'. It added: 'It's August, not winter, and the NHS is close to failing in places.'

"Well, we're not in August any more, we're on the cusp of winter. Someone in government needs to get a grip because Scotland's NHS is already beginning to fail."