Letters: SNP has failed Scotland and must be kicked out of office

It would seem that members of the SNP will either just try to turn a blind eye to such an impending economic disaster, or more likely they simply will not dare admit any such worries to the electorate.

The only way forward in my view is for the people of Scotland to opt for a change of administration at Holyrood. After all, it is only a minority SNP administration at the present time.

There is absolutely no rational reason for the SNP to be re-elected since it has singularly failed to improve Scotland’s economy, public services, or indeed any other benefits for the people of Scotland.

Its projected policies will more likely to be harmful not only to Scotland, but to the whole of the UK.

To date the current administration has singularly failed in all of the key areas: the economy, health, education, police, welfare, support for agriculture, and public transport, including West Coast ferries.

So how on earth can they expect to earn the support of Scotland’s voters?

And, probably the most crucial point of all, when will the internecine battles between Sturgeon, Salmond, Cherry, etc., etc. possibly come to an end?

If they cannot agree with each other, what possible chance have they of persuading us, the mere electorate, to support their cause?

May I suggest, fellow Scots, that the time has come for a marked change in the Holyrood political scene? Surely you must agree that we have had enough of this wholly unprincipled Holyrood administration.

Robert I G Scott, Ceres, Fife.

IN SEARCH OF A FAIRER SCOTLAND

I STARTED my time in 1966 in Stephen’s shipyard at Linthouse, Glasgow. My tradesman’s rate of tax was 41 per cent – this appeared fair as millionaires’ rate of tax was 95 per cent (look it up).

Today tax rates are much lower. This makes little difference to the super-rich as they hide their money in Panama and the Cayman Islands.

If wee Johnny needs an electric wheelchair some kindly soul puts on a green rabbit suit and runs a marathon. Wee Johnny gets his wheelchair and the rich get to keep their money.

As long as the political elite remain in power this situation will persist.

We won’t change Westminster but we could make Scotland fairer.

Let’s set an example to the world

J. Lawrie, Wishaw.

WESTMINSTER’S DARK ARTS

I SMELL a large London rat currently crawling covertly through Scotland’s political/governmental sewers and raking through the SNP’s rubbish bins.

I strongly suspect that shadowy UK state actors are already – directly or indirectly – acting on behalf of a hapless, alarmed Johnson regime facing losing Scotland and, potentially, Northern Ireland, from their Precious Union.

Answering a few key questions confirms that covert operations aimed at discrediting the SNP and scuppering the expressed ambitions of millions of Scots are not simply possible, but either highly probable or certain.

Question 1. Precedent? Yes. UK state-sponsored undercover military intelligence callously conducted operations against its own people in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.

Question 2. Motive? Twenty successive pro-independence polls would be cynically justified as an existential threat to the UK state.

Question 3. Pressing need? Impending Scottish elections will, without London’s intervention, provide a clear mandate for IndyRef2, and if the best No 10 can conjure up is a leak that Prince Edward may be sent to live in Edinburgh to halt the insurrection, the absolute imperative for, and use of, dark arts is clear and obvious.

Dig up a slew of SNP dirt, which is innocuous compared to laundered Russian money helping fund the Conservatives; multi-million-pound PPE contracts handed to Tory cronies;120,000 Covid-19 deaths largely on Johnson’s watch; prevarication over the Grenfell cladding; and Windrush malfeasance. Create and exaggerate a critical mass of SNP wrong-doing – the job is half-done.

Recruit a few gullible clowns with scores to settle, like my MP Kenny MacAskill, a discredited past master Alex Salmond hell-bent on revenge and, unless enough Scots voters wise up fast, London’s latest power-play (remember IndyRef1 & Brexit?) ends badly once again.

It will be a tainted victory for self-serving, incompetent and unelected Oxbridge/Sandhurst types retaining control over Scotland without authority or legitimacy.

Mike Wilson, Longniddry.

BENEFITS OF A FOUR-DAY WORKING WEEK

JILL Stephenson in her letter (“Is there a magic money tree?”, February 8) dismisses the idea of a four-day working week. But perhaps we need to consider all options going forward from the global pandemic which is currently having a devastating impact on employment.

So is the prospect of a four-day working week food for thought? The article Stephenson referred to in The Herald (“Coalition appeal to Sturgeon for a ‘Corbynesque’ four-day week”, February 5) highlighted that the prospect of a four-day working week is being looked at in other parts of Europe, and Spain is currently piloting a scheme with Government incentives.

The idea of such a week has not only to be looked at economically; the well-being of the employees must come into the scenario as those who want to attend work and get rewarded can have long-term health benefits, which impact on the country at large.

The global pandemic presents the country with an opportunity to review and examine the bigger picture of work-life and how it impacts on our daily living, which could include taking a whole new approach to employment.

A new system of job-sharing may well be the way forward and deserves an airing. Many employers who currently allow employees to condense their working hours report positive outcomes, creating a positive workplace environment with no loss of production, giving employees more flexibility to accommodate other responsibilities like childcare and caring roles.

By not reducing employees’ wages this allows local economies to flourish with local spending power.

Jill Stephenson asks is there a magic money tree to reimburse employers. Perhaps looking at the long-term positive impact such proposals could achieve will allow the local and national magic money-tree to grow and benefit society as a whole.

Catriona C Clark, Banknock,

Falkirk.

CAN WE NOW MOVE ON FROM SALMOND?

CAN I point out that while the SNP and the media (including The Herald) appear to be enjoying the Alex Salmond spat about who did what and when, the general public are no longer interested?

What they are interested in is the amount of taxpayers’ money this is costing the country, which I’m sure could be spent on much needier causes.

The fact is that while there was never any criminality in Mr Salmond’s actions they fell well short of those of a gentleman, never mind a First Minister. He has had his day in court, so can we now move on?

H. Buchanan, Glasgow.

THE SNP AND THE SCOTTISH MEDIA

NEIL Mackay’s article (“SNP hostility to the press is a direct assault on democracy”, February 9) is a prime example of how the latest revelations and outrageous obfuscations from the Salmond scandal, and the acrimony, infighting and rumours inside the SNP, have provoked greater coverage and comment by the Scottish press and broadcast media.

One day, the whole truth and the role of the SNP, the civil service, the judiciary and the quangocracy will come out.

I just hope we are still living in the UK by then – and not in Nicola Sturgeon’s East Germany on the Clyde.

Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF GOING IT ALONE

THE Salmond inquiry has exposed huge divisions within the SNP. It has also exposed somewhat different views of the same events.

With this degree of breakdown in the cohesion of the party, is it really wise to proceed with a divisive referendum request which is bound to cause even more dissent within the SNP as well as split the entire country?

The negative consequences for Scotland of attempting to break up the Union are becoming more stark daily.

Winning might just be possible with enough spin but making a success of it is beyond the capabilities of a party at war with itself. Boris Johnson saying “no” might very well be the best thing ever to happen to Scotland.

Dr Gerald Edwards, Glasgow.

THE many misfortunes undermining the SNP are a sign that the party really has been in power for far too long.

S. Cooper, Edinburgh.