Here's a very important lesson for Ross Greer to learn

What would be a much better idea would be for MSPs to look at the procedures that were in place in the 1950s and 60s and adopt those which made us the envy of the world because of our high standard of education.

Mr Greer’s time would be better spent trying to understand what is going on in the real world in which most of us live rather than on spouting forth impractical suggestions which would be better off in the fairytale section of his local library.

Alan McGibbon, Paisley.

Read more letters

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• SNP aren’t great, but just look at the Westminster options…
• Risky business: Flynn should be wary of becoming SNP leader

Get rid of useless degrees

Your article on Scotland’s acute skills shortage, which threatens our ability to benefit from the defence spending boom, rightly rings alarm bells ("Industry leaders in call for action over defence jobs", The Herald, April 7). Yet for anyone old enough to remember the 1960s, the cause is glaringly obvious.

Back then only 4-5% of young people went to university while one-third of teenage boys left school for apprenticeships in manufacturing and trades. Today over 50% enter higher education, often in degrees of doubtful value, while fewer than 5% of 16-18-year-olds are apprentices. The net result is a generation burdened by debt, skilled mainly in regurgitating textbooks yet unable to think independently for themselves or perform basic practical tasks.

Many of these graduates now populate the civil service and career politics. AI will soon replace them. Practical, hands-on skills will not. Scotland urgently needs a return to the vocational training that once built our industrial strength, not more useless degrees which has destroyed our productivity, dumbed down our parliaments and bloated our public services.

Ian Lakin, Aberdeen.

Don't go Green on peach ballot

One does not need positively to like the idea of incarcerating malefactors to recognise that, for a functioning and relatively safe society, this is a necessary sanction. Now we learn that a prominent candidate in May’s election, Kate Nevens of the Scottish Greens, describes herself as an "abolitionist" demanding "the complete abolition of the prison system in Scotland" ("‘No prisons, no cages’: Green doubles down on abolition call", heraldscotland, April 7).

Ms Nevens is, apparently, likely to be returned as a list MSP because a few Green party members have ranked her second on their list for Edinburgh and Lothians East. Voters therefore need to be aware that, if they give their list vote, on the peach ballot paper, to the Greens in this region, they risk supporting the candidacy for Holyrood of someone who does not think that murderers or rapists should be sent to prison.

If that is not what you favour, you will need to avoid voting Green on the (peach) list in Edinburgh and Lothians East. Ms Nevens’ name will not be on the ballot paper, only Scottish Greens, so, if you vote for the Greens you will be helping Ms Nevens to become an MSP and agitate at Holyrood for her "no prisons" policy.

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh.

Let's make our politics civil

The ongoing turmoil in Scotland's election campaign, characterised by negativity and misinformation, highlights a troubling trend in our political landscape. As we navigate this challenging period, it is crucial to advocate for a more constructive dialogue that prioritises the needs of the electorate over party politicking.

My central claim is that Scottish politics must shift away from personal attacks and distractions, focusing instead on meaningful solutions for pressing issues. With this election providing a critical opportunity for change, voters deserve candidates who advocate for policies that genuinely benefit the community.

Firstly, we must address the key concerns facing Scotland today: rising living costs, healthcare accessibility, and education quality.

Candidates should be articulating clear, actionable plans to tackle these issues rather than engaging in mud-slinging. A focus on constructive policy proposals will empower voters to make informed decisions and enhance public trust in our political institutions.

Secondly, the importance of transparency in communication cannot be overstated. Political discourse should encourage open dialogue that respects the intelligence of the electorate. Engaging citizens in genuine discussions fosters a sense of ownership over the democratic process and reinforces the idea that their voices matter.

Lastly, we need to cultivate a culture of civility and respect within our political sphere. Encouraging politicians to engage in constructive debates rather than negative campaigning would signal to voters that their elected representatives are prioritising the greater good over personal ambitions.

While some may argue that negativity drives engagement and interest, it ultimately alienates voters and diminishes the integrity of our democratic practices. We must recognise that a respectful, solutions-oriented approach is the only way to restore faith in politics.

In conclusion, let us commit to elevating the quality of political discourse in Scotland. By championing a culture of constructive engagement, we can inspire confidence in our political system and ensure that Scotland emerges stronger from this election cycle.

Alastair Majury, Dunblane.

Indyref not about the SNP

Jill Stephenson (Letters, April 7) is correct: Scotland has no constitutional rights within the UK, so is prohibited from consulting its own population on what its future should be. But Northern Ireland has a legal right written into the UK constitution to do precisely that, and it would seem that only a few years from now, that might well happen, which will show up Scotland’s constitutional “invisibility cloak” in all its colonial finery.

There is also a belief promulgated by unionist pundits such as Rebecca McQuillan that “support for independence at its current levels” is so low that John Swinney would be mad to want a referendum ("Swinney would be mad to want a referendum in midst of these troubled times", The Herald, April 7). Astonishingly these pundits do not seem to realise that any referendum would not be on the merits of the SNP, but on Scottish independence, which a majority of polls now show is the preference of Scots, when offered the dire parochialism of the status quo or joining the rest of the world.

GR Weir, Ochiltree.

Scottish Greens candidate Kate Nevens has called for the abolition of prisons (Image: Scottish Greens)

SNP's failing memory

You report that John Swinney had no information about Peter Murrell being aware of allegations about Jordan Linden almost a decade ago ("FM had ‘no knowledge’ of complaint", The Herald, April 7).

The SNP have no recollections about a lot of things, like the Glen Sannox costing four times more than was originally quoted, and the ferries built in Turkey costing more than first quoted. I could go on, and this from a party that has been in government since 2007.

Openness is not in the SNP's vocabulary, but the ironical truth is that that appears to have no difference in people's views who again, no doubt, will vote them in again.

I don't get it.

Neil Stewart, Balfron.

• Statements by John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon that they respectively had no knowledge of and knew nothing more about reported incidents remind me of Fawlty Towers' Spanish waiter Manuel from Barcelona and his catchphrase "I know nothing, Mr Fawlty".

David Miller, Milngavie.

The search for closure

The problem highlighted in Rebecca McCurdy's recent article ("Taxpayer’s £42 million bill for barely-used offices", The Herald, April 4) could be solved if some of the offices were closed down. However, once employees hear that money is being saved by them not appearing at the office I expect them to demand that they need extra money to help pay for their increased energy costs due to them working from home.

Colin Gunn, Glasgow.