John Swinney says if the SNP wins a majority at the Scottish elections his priority will be another referendum on independence (“Independence vote would be Swinney’s ‘priority’ if SNP win majority", The Herald, March 9).
Can we then assume that the SNP’s election campaign will be on the single issue of independence, and that it will produce a detailed plan, similar to the 2013 White Paper, showing precisely how breaking up the UK will make Scots any better off or any safer in an insecure world?
I suggest not, because no such plan exists.
The SNP has never been able to understand, much less explain, how a Scotland shorn of the benefits of pooling and sharing within the UK would bridge the £22 billion gap in our annual current account; what currency would be used; where foreign reserves would come from and how we would pay for the borrowing necessary to set up a new country, with no track record of funding such borrowing.
The economic waters would be stormy and the ship’s hull would be leaky as an SNP ferry.
As for security: what sense does it make to weaken the UK defence force by splitting our military strength just when the world is in military turmoil and the international order is fragmenting?
What size and shape would our military forces be?
Would the new country be in NATO and therefore accept nuclear weapons? If not in NATO, how would it see off the threat of Russia in the North Atlantic?
If in NATO, how, with an uncertain economy and Scots already poorer by a margin, would it fund the required 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence?
There are other questions that need answers, not least the competence of SNP ministers to run an independent country with fewer resources, when they can’t even make a decent fist of devolution within the protections offered by the UK.
But it is clear that on the two biggest issues facing any country, the economy and defence, the SNP has no clue, and probably no desire, to provide the answers that Scotland needs.
To pursue independence in such an uncertain environment would be foolish beyond measure.
I would urge Mr Swinney to instead run on the SNP’s record over the last 19 years. Given that would present him with a different and longer list of headaches,
I sympathise with his reasoning not to do so.
Alex Gallagher, Largs.
More letters...
Swinney U-turn is welcome but concerns about education remain remain
Do for this generation what was done for Scotland's emigrants
Film-makers should revisit the life of the Aristocratic Socialist
Double trouble in Middle East
In the Middle East, the problem is twofold: nuclear Islamism and nuclear Zionism. We know Iran doesn’t currently have nuclear weapons, and we should do whatever it takes to stop them from having them.
The USA claims to know where the nuclear materials are, and perhaps an international force could be assembled to retrieve them, even though they may be buried deep in destroyed tunnels and very difficult to access.
Nuclear Zionism would be easier to deal with. Israel should be required to put their nuclear weapons beyond use.
At the same time, the West should stop arming the over-powerful IDF, which is doing so much damage to the Middle East's people and infrastructure, and to the world's economy.
John Jamieson, Ayr.
Child poverty reduction a moral duty
The failure to meet the child poverty reduction target is concerning (“'Timid' Scottish child poverty plan will miss targets, SNP told", The Herald, March 12).
With the deadline missed, many families in Scotland will continue struggling.
Child poverty isn’t merely a statistic; it highlights the urgent need for action. Investment in social support programs is essential for breaking the cycle of poverty and building a brighter future for our children.
Prioritising resources to address this issue is not only a moral duty but also beneficial for society as a whole.
Alastair Majury, Dunblane, Perthshire.
FPTP not OK
James Martin's assertion that, with compulsory voting, First Past The Post (FPTP) would be perfectly adequate, cannot go unchallenged (Herald Letters, March 12).
FPTP was fine when we had a basically two-party system.
However, with the multiple party system we now have, it’s possible to get, as Labour did last year, a massive majority of seats with 37% of the votes.
How legitimate is a voting system where such a distortion produces a government that most voters did not want?
Andrew Mitchell, Prestwick.
Working from home beneficial
I write regarding Rebecca McCurdy's ongoing series of articles on civil servants working from home (“Scottish Government faces ‘secrecy’ row over civil servants working from home”, The Herald, March 12).
I am disabled and, because of my age, my state retirement isn't likely to come much before 70. The ability to work from home, in a culture where that is supported and fully equipped, has been revolutionary.
It means I can work, contribute equally, fulfil my potential. Without this possibility, I would certainly be unemployed, and, I think, likely worse.
Like others in my position, I work hard, support my colleagues and love my job and the sense of purpose it gives me.
We take the responsibility of being public servants very seriously. Digital tools mean we can connect better and quicker than we could in a shared physical office.
Efficiency is going to be more important than ever as our workforce is cut by 20%.
I feel pretty devastated every time I read thinly veiled insinuations that we are lazy skivers, despite the long hours and commitment we happily give.
Ms McCurdy wrote compellingly in 2024 about her experience of being diagnosed with dyspraxia, and how life-changing it was for her to receive proper support for the first time.
I wish she could find some journalistic empathy for those who simply hope for the same.
Fiona Seymour, Edinburgh.
Local movie making is possible
Well done James McAvoy (“McAvoy calls for film industry overhaul”, The Herald March 9).
His achievement in directing the incredible movie California Schemin’ is outstanding, while his experience making a film of Scottish origin, and overcoming unwelcome hurdles in a talent-rich country, is a breath of fresh air.
His comments about Scotland’s, and indeed the UK’s self-imposed film making limitations, brought about by governments of various complexions needs repeating.
As a film buff from boyhood, in time becoming Film Minister under Tony Blair, I’m able, as a retired politician, to enjoy the freedom of expression which a great creative industry invites.
Mr McAvoy’s remarkable movie was only made possible, apart from Screen Scotland, from an eleventh hour act of generosity from Patriot Pictures of America, which is ironic.
In my brief ministerial role, joined by the extremely able Stewart Till of Universal Films, we facilitated a review of the British Film Industry, when stakeholders involved in all industry aspects gave their best.
Our eight months of intense activity produced the document A Bigger Picture, which the Financial Times described as: “The most comprehensive review of the British film industry in thirty years.”
Brimming with ideas, offering solutions about lack of funding , everyone involved, including many distinguished Scots, gave their best.
We assumed our work would lead to a renaissance of UK film culture, including in Scotland. Remarkably, it was never discussed in the House of Commons, as we might have expected.
Our findings, and my job, were banished, like edited footage on the studio floor. James McAvoy’s comments underline an ongoing problem:
How can we set up a production fund to compete with the American vertical approach, combining production with distribution and exhibition?
When cinema going was at its height after World War II, the President of the Board of Trade, Harold Wilson, introduced the ‘Eady Levy’ which meant a small percentage of tickets for an anticipated film would be collected and timeously sent to the production company whose movie we were about to see.
Our approach on the review group concluded that a voluntary contribution of 0.5% for each movie, from cinemas and television, would be a reasonable outcome. Funding and cash-flow, we thought, would be less problematic.
“Not so,” said the American Movie Industry.
Their veto scuppered our good intentions.
It wasn’t sufficient for them to decide what would be projected on their over 70% of UK screens.
They claimed this would be too much of a burden for television companies, even though their representatives played a major part in our thinking.
I’m delighted James McAvoy was assisted by Patriot Pictures.
But if our recommendations had been implemented, it wouldn’t have been necessary. A recent Parliamentary recommendation by the Culture Media Sport and Digital Committee stated there should be a compulsory levy by all who benefit from productions.
It’s hard to find fault with their conclusions.
Sir Tom Clarke, Former Labour MP and UK Film Minister.
As a regular reader and admirer of Kevin McKenna's pieces, I was left feeling rather bemused by his tongue-in-cheek comments regarding the ugly scenes after the recent match at Ibrox (“After Old Firm shame game, I am so cross about fellow Catholics”, The Herald, March 12).
Perhaps, like many of us, he felt it was pointless to offer actionable solutions to the nasty behaviour of some of these so-called supporters of both teams.
Personally, I’d like to see definitive moves to combat any repeat of this loutish behaviour, starting with all matches between Celtic and Rangers next season played behind closed doors.
When this measure is concluded, if any section of the crowd subsequently displays similar violence, there would be an immediate reinstatement of the closed-door policy.
I understand this wouldn’t meet with the approval of the majority of sensible fans, because supporters provide so much atmosphere.
But needs must.
John O'Kane, Glasgow.
It’s a dog’s life
Police officers choose their occupations – dogs don’t.
Unlike willing humans who choose to enlist, dogs don’t consent to risking their lives on the frontline, where they’re battered in riots, burned and hit with projectiles, beaten and strangled by offenders, and even left to die in a hot police car.
Hopefully, Kilo will make a full recovery and live the rest of his life in peace ("Missing police dog found after public appeal for help", The Herald, March 12).
In the meantime, the police must learn from his ordeal and phase out the use of dogs, to prevent anyone else from getting hurt, or worse.
Yvonne Taylor, Vice President of Corporate Projects, PETA UK, Edinburgh.
The sound of silence
Much has been written about content changes at Radio Scotland but the thing that has me shouting at the radio is silence. In other words, the gaps between items, ‘Drivetime’ being the worst offender.
It’s well known that even a one second silence in radio is considered a lifetime.
Yet every day the presenters are let down by the sort of sloppy production that would embarrass a hospital radio station.
Stuart Neville, Clydebank.
Can-do attitude for Central
There's been a raft of suggestions and comments on the Central Station fire (Herald Letters, March 13).
Surely the priority is to restore normality, which could be best achieved by swiftly re-instating the Irn-Bru advert.
David Hay, Minard.
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