NEIL Mackay ("Time our politicians tackled the real problem – poverty", The Herald, January 15) urges everyone to forget about constitutional change and focus on ending poverty.

It’s a common mistake to see constitutional politics as “navel-gazing and esoteric”. However, our political constitution determines the focus of the laws which govern our lives. For many years Scottish political philosophy has been at odds with UK political philosophy. Our laws should be allowed to reflect this.

Until defence is devolved we will continue to waste money (which could have been spent on public infrastructure) upon status symbols like Trident and jingoistic wars. Until immigration is devolved we’ll be struggling to staff the NHS. Until benefits and taxes are fully devolved the Scottish Government will be fighting poverty with one hand tied behind its back.

The Westminster Government is an archaic institution which prioritises pomp and privilege over progress. Its lack of written constitution means that far too much power is given to the PM and even to the Speaker. Escaping from under its control is a necessary prerequisite to changing those priorities which currently ignore the plight of the poor.

Mary McCabe,

25 Circus Drive, Glasgow.

IT would be difficult for any informed compassionate person to disagree with Neil Mackay that poverty is the great unspoken curse that blights our land but then again it always has been. We don’t live in some enlightened golden era despite all the shiny things in the shops, we still have the divide between the rich and the poor and if anything with globalisation the gap between the top and the bottom is increasing.

The question we should be asking is why after centuries of supposedly democratic governance poverty exists at all. I believe it is not relevant where government sits but what it actually does that matters. We have had years of SNP governance in Scotland and try as it may to publicise its attempts to mitigate the disastrous side effects of Tory Westminster policy, by balancing the budget given to it, it still in effect is pursuing Westminster’s policy of austerity deliberately targeted at the poor in our society. We had years of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in power; nothing substantially changed, poverty persisted after years of Labour governance. Since then things for those at the bottom have worsened but not so for the upper strata of society.

Poverty can only be eradicated if steps are taken to alter the distribution of wealth and history clearly demonstrates that never happens voluntarily. Those with money and the power that goes with it pull the strings of our so-called democracy; all the evidence is there to demonstrate that fact. It is simply the self-interest of those who aware of that fact and do nothing about it that keeps the poor poor. Poverty will remain because until it is experienced first-hand most people could care less; it’s classic “I’m alright jack, pull up the ladder”.

David J Crawford,

85 Whittingehame Court, 1300 Great Western Road, Glasgow.

SCOTT Thornton (Letters, January 14) complains about having to pay more income tax because his deferral of the state pension pushed him into the higher tax bracket.

I would consider MrThornton to be very fortunate that he could afford to defer his state pension. Most people cannot. The incomes of most working people do not come close to reaching the higher income tax threshold.

Living in Scotland means that he, his family and those worse off than himself can avail themselves of the many benefits denied those living south of the Border. Free prescriptions. Free eye tests. Free personal care for all who require it. Free bus

travel to all over 60 has only recently been adopted in England but has been available in Scotland for many years Mr Thornton may feel he has no need of these benefits but there are many who do and it is only right in a civilised society that those who can afford to pay should shoulder their share of the burden.

David Clark,

Wrights Toll Cottage, Tarbolton.

I AM very grateful to the Herald for suggesting how my pension fund could be used to bankroll homes and to plant trees ("Pensions shake-up to bankroll homes and trees boom", The Herald, January 14).

Yes, the existing high private advisor fees and non-ethical investment – whether in the US finance companies supporting Trump and his wall or from investment in Saudi arms firms – makes it embarrassing to get my monthly Strathclyde pension.

But the key question missed is why ordinary investors in the fund don't have more control over their own pension fund. A few councillors and union reps is simply not good enough. We need Scottish legislation to give all us savers a much greater say. That will lead to more ethical investment and investment in a better-quality Scotland.

And if the Scottish Government can actually organise its Scottish Investment Bank, then I'm sure Strathclyde and the other public sector pension funds will invest - if the returns are good enough.

But fortunately it's not up to the Scottish Government where Strathclyde Pension Fund invests its money. I seem to recall the First Minister promoting her Chinese friends – or "investing" in Prestwick. Or where other "business development loans" invested in the likes of Kaiam fail to get repaid on closure.

If homes and trees in Scotland are to be bankrolled they'll need to be designed and completed to a lot better quality than the present mess.

Dave Sutton,

Douglas Gate, Cambuslang.

I READ Pinstripe’s contribution this week ("Let's use our heads to avoid sting in the tail over Brexit", Herald Business, January 14) with interest.

As normal, he denigrates the SNP Government for its impudence in attempting to avoid a disaster for Scotland, and the UK, in Westminster’s bungling attitudes. He fails to understand what a mess the Tories have got us into, and how Labour are also flailing about.

After I read his piece the word insouciant sprang into my mind, and not being a word I normally use, I checked my Oxford English Dictionary and found it described as light-hearted, carefree; it would seem that he is quite happy whatever happens, which indicates to me he is well off financially and will have no problems with any kind of Brexit.

Coincidentally, today you published a piece on the late Matt McGinn ("Calton plaque honour for folk music great McGinn", the Herald, January 15), one of whose greatest hits was “Three nights and a Sunday double time, I work all day and I work all night, tae Hell wi’ you Jack, I’m all right”. How appropriate.

Jim Lynch,

42 Corstorphine Hill Crescent, Edinburgh.