Scotland Matters Letters

We know nationalists have no economic/financial plans for a successful independent Scotland. Writing in a Scottish daily this week it seems one separatist case for independence is based on: “abundant natural resources, renewable energy sectors, legendary engineering, scientific skills and an enterprising workforce”. The writer states, “a fully independent Scotland would prosper and flourish”. These are abstract, idealistic, vague emotional notions and will not give Scots the confidence to vote for separation. Why is it that those who wish to destroy the UK are frightened to provide “the people of Scotland” with real facts and figures, the economic and financial details to show that Scots for generations will be better off in an independent country? They simply can’t, or rather refuse to because deep down they know the truth. Douglas Cowe, Aberdeenshire

Sir, – It is not surprising that serious concerns are being raised about the SNP’s hare-brained proposals for setting up a national care service when considering what they have done to NHS Scotland, which is now in a state of rapid meltdown and collapse. The SNP track record in running essential services in Scotland is abysmal, not to mention their inability to understand the basic principles of how commercial activities are run, such as the Scottish transport and ferry services. Those in the care industry in Scotland are already very worried about the existing shortcomings in staff recruitment and training and have expressed their fears of what will happen to the services if the SNP force legislation through Holyrood that will be completely unworkable. Dennis Forbes Grattan, Bucksburn.

You might have thought that with the Labour Party 30 points ahead in the polls and with the cost of living crisis and pay demands all playing to a traditional Labour agenda that Sir Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar would be determined that there would be no distractions from this whatsoever. But no. True to form, Labour wants to talk about the agenda of another political party (“Boosted borrowing powers unveiled in Labour’s strategy”, The Herald, December 6). The political reality in Scotland in particular is that if you give political commentators the choice between talking about everyday issues, and talking about the constitution, then they will talk about the constitution. Labour almost threw the referendum away in 2014, and it looks as though it will try its hardest to throw its chance away now as well. The SNP is a nationalist party that wants independence. It will take whatever powers you give it and say “Thanks very much, but we still want independence.” You can’t triangulate with it and hope to gain anything yourself. The old saying is as true as ever “If you know something can bite you, don’t let it lick you.” We should not be talking about more powers, but proper implementation and transparency around the powers that we already have and which the SNP abuses at every turn. Victor Clements, Aberfeldy.

Nothing seems to bother Nicola Sturgeon. She thinks she has the support of the ‘majority of the Scottish people’ in all she does. She is standing by her health secretary despite the utter shambles he is presiding over. The First Minister is standing by her handling of the ferries scandal, despite mounting evidence that all is not well. She is sticking with her embracing of the Green Party despite its obvious lack of popularity. She is adamant about her gender reforms despite growing anxiety among a large swathe of the population. When is she going to come out of her ivory tower and see the real scene? Why doesn’t she go and visit an A&E department, unannounced, and see for herself the chaos and talk to poor Scots who have waited 12 or more hours to be seen or who are lying on trolleys in the corridors? She might even get a photo opportunity if the rules allow it. What can possibly go wrong? Gerald Edwards, Glasgow.

I and, no doubt, many others across Scotland have just had the latest SNP’s Yes for Independence multi-page propaganda leaflet drop through my letter box. I doubt if there has ever been a more fanciful, pie-in-the-sky political leaflet produced anywhere. The front page: Independence is essential for you, your family… and to get rid of the Tories for good. So vote for independence because Sturgeon despises the Tories. And on to the issues of borders, according to the SNP as an independent country, Scotland would be able to decide whichever border controls it chooses. Using that argument, so would England. But the most ludicrous claim is that because of the Common Travel Area, Scots have freedom of movement within the British Isles, as Ireland does now. That is an utterly shameful misrepresentation of the fact that all citizens of the UK move freely across the British Isles because we are all British. V Jones, Arbroath, Angus.

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