DR Scott Arthur (Letters , February 5) laments the dismissal by the SNP of Kezia Dugdale's policy of raising the basic rate of income tax by one percentage point – a policy which he depicts in a possible paroxysm of amnesia as "the boldest and the most fiscally credible proposal put forward by a Scottish politician since devolution began". As some of your journalists have already pointed out, this scheme bears an arresting similarity to the SNP's own "A Penny for Scotland" policy of 1999. However, in point of fact Ms Dugdale's plan is neither more bold nor more credible.

In the first case this is because the SNP's policy contained none of Labour’s myriad of proposed exemptions; and in the second case because the funds were intended in part for abolishing university tuition fees and bridge tolls – two projects the Labour Party spent not a single penny upon (either Scottish or otherwise) during eight years of coalition government.

Dr Arthur suggests he agrees that there is a social democratic consensus among the Scottish people at present which is opposed to austerity. However, he omits to likewise mention the overwhelming sense of accord against the continued obscenity of nuclear weapon deployment. A consensus moreover, against which Labour’s current Scottish branch manager currently stands in resolute opposition.

Given that the Ministry of Defence's own figures currently estimate the 32-year-long cost of Trident replacement at £167 billion, a quick reckoning implies Scotland's share of the expense to be around £430 million annually – swallowing up almost all of the £500m Labour claims its proposed wages tax would raise. May I suggest we hereby christen the policy A Penny for Trident?

Chris McLaughlin,

71b Braidpark Drive,

Giffnock.

JOHN Swinney’s insistence on “per capita indexation” in the fiscal framework negotiations is vital for Scotland’s national interest (“Swinney accused of ‘chancing his arm’”, The Herald, February 5.) Under the rule of the Union, with its politically centralised, free-market economic system, Scotland’s population has remained largely static for 70 years, with a growing share of elderly and representing a declining proportion (now 8.4 per cent) of the UK population. A massive 800,000, mostly younger, Scots economic migrants live in England.

Compare this with the Republic of Ireland, where the population has almost doubled since independence. The Republic has the youngest population in the European Union and, through this, is leading the economic recovery with the fastest growth rate in the Eurozone. Only some 400,000 Irish from the Republic live in England – half the Scottish migrant rate. The Republic’s tax take for 2015 was 45.6 billion euros.

The other independent entity in the British Isles, the Isle of Man – miles from anywhere – has a population of more than 50,000, in stark comparison with much nearer islands such as Skye (some 7,000) or Mull (about 4,000).

All of Scotland’s immediate independent European neighbours display a population trend similar to that of the two independent countries within the British Isles. Iceland, on the Arctic Circle, has doubled its population since 1945 , as has Norway ,following independence in 1905. The Faroe Islands have double the population of the much less “remote” Shetland and Orkney groups.

We can expect David Mundell, one of just three Unionist MPs left in Scotland, to oppose “per capita indexation”. Unionists want the Scottish Parliament to fail through a declining population tax base relative to the UK. Perfidious Albion uses such subtle tricks when dealing with emergent national independence movements. There will be more in the coming years.

Tom Johnston,

SNP councillor, North Lanarkshire Council,

5 Burn View, Cumbernauld.

I NOTED with some amusement that David Mundell is accusing John Swinney of “chancing his arm” in the budget negotiations between both the UK and Scottish governments. It reinforces a long-held view by many of us in Scotland that the Secretary of State position is the British Cabinet's representative in Scotland rather than Scotland's representative in the British Cabinet. Why not just dump this charade and re-name the Secretary of State Governor General?

Roddy Mac Donald,

1 Glenmount Place, Ayr.

THREE of the SNP’s flagship policies – freezing council tax, abolishing bridge tolls and free prescriptions – have benefited not the poorest in Scotland, but the better off. These policies are now one of the reasons for the further cuts being announced to local government services on which we all depend.

They were populist policies designed to gain votes for independence and all they have achieved is reducing the income to central and local government which could have been used to sustain and improve public services such as education and social care.

Those on the lowest incomes did not pay council tax and arrangements could have been made to raise the level at which it was paid to protect from any increases. Those on higher incomes with the largest houses are the main beneficiaries.

Bridge tolls were only paid by those who could already afford cars and we now see the impact on the maintenance to the Forth Road Bridge. Older people, those on the lowest incomes and with long-term illnesses did not pay for prescriptions.

These policies failed to produce independence and now they are responsible for poorer services, particularly those for the most vulnerable.

Phil D’Arcy,

14 Glen Avenue, Dyce, Aberdeen.