Why did the First Minister choose to dodge a debate?

Or perhaps it was because he has run out of ‘bribes’ to offer the electorate and does not want to appear without some new scheme.

His literature runs through these as if they were already a done deal, with GP walk-in clinics and shorter waiting times, extra help with the cost of living, free childcare and breakfast clubs, help for renters and first-time buyers all guaranteed.

And finally, lower energy bills with independence.

The SNP does not own the sources of energy, so how would it achieve that?

Perhaps Mr Swinney fears being asked how he would pay for all these promises?

With a projected extra big black hole of £5 billion by 2030 predicted by financial experts, the SNP really has run out of road when it comes to offering new incentives for Scots to vote for it.

As Liam Byrne, a former Labour minister wrote to his Liberal Democrat successor, David Laws, in 2010: ‘Dear Chief Secretary, I’m afraid there is no money. Kind regards - and good luck!’

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh.

More letters...

UK policy on losing Covid restrictions is utterly reckless

Unanswered questions remain after Salmond court case win

A tale of lies, deceit, denial and disregard for health warnings

Economic miracle: capable people needed

Where is the economic vision? The party manifestos are out.

It is gratifying that some parties recognise that a strong wealth-creating economy is essential, if Scotland is to have the tax base to fund adequate social provision and ameliorate poverty.

Scotland has enormous potential, but we currently have a £5 billion budget black hole, our health and education, services, courts, prisons and much else struggle through shortage of funds and personnel; our local authorities are running on empty and poverty remains endemic.

To turn all that around will require an economic underpinning and productivity boost way beyond anything currently in prospect.

My question, therefore, is this: Where is the vision, the plan, the management capability to bring about the required transformation?

A good starting point is to look at and emulate how other successful nations achieve cost-effective economic (and social) success – Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Canada, etc. Here are a few thoughts.

Oil and gas: Europe will need hydrocarbons for decades to come. Why import when we have our own resource? Answer: Develop the Rosebank oil and gas field urgently, the UK’s largest untapped fossil fuel resource, so improving balance of payments, generating employment and tax revenue.

Green hydrogen is the future zero emission gas that Norway, Denmark and Canada are generating either by wind turbines or hydro. Canada is set to export it to Germany, why isn’t Scotland?

Tidal stream generation is potentially able to provide a constant green electricity baseload for all Scotland’s needs. Why has this stalled?

International trade: lack of modern port capacity means much of Scotland’s traded goods today go via distant ports in England, so raising costs.

The Maritime Policy for Scotland drafted by Professor Alf Baird and myself was unanimously approved by the SNP conference in 2019 and has since been studiously ignored.

The proposed Scapa Flow container trans-shipment terminal and ferry and cruise port near Cockenzie would revolutionise Scotland’s international connectivity at little cost to the public purse. Time to act.

Housing: we have an acute housing shortage, yet house building has stalled. Streamline planning, disincentivise land-banking and skill-up the sector.

Skills: on delivering the above, there is a huge skills deficiency and an obvious need for apprenticeships in key trades.

But crucially, where are the necessary skill-sets at strategic and management levels?

How many of the new MSPs will have senior business or economic experience? Any?

Our public appointments process and civil service are woefully ill-equipped to cut the necessary deals.

Therein lies a major problem, because the above developments won’t happen without skilled orchestration.

Of course, capable people do exist. The challenge will be to seek them out and put them in place to pull off the vital economic miracle.

Roy Pedersen, Inverness.

Energy crises demands decisive action

Ed Miliband’s latest doubling down on his renewables mantra is presented as visionary, but is a classic example of left wing economic self-harm (“Under-pressure Reeves set to hike ‘electricity generator levy’ as costs soar”, The Herald, April 22).

By sidelining domestic oil and gas, he risks British jobs, weakens energy security, worsens the balance of payments, and pushes more households into fuel poverty.

Even under his most ambitious scenarios, gas remains essential for baseload power and system stability. Why, then, is domestic production unacceptable while higher-emission imports are promoted?

A serious energy policy would balance transition with resilience, investing in cleaner technologies without dismantling reliable supply chains or exporting emissions and jobs abroad.

Even his supporter Dale Vince now urges the government to “protect and optimise” remaining North Sea resources during the transition.

What, then, is Mr Miliband’s real objective, and why has Sir Keir Starmer given him carte blanche?

Enough of Ed Miliband’s green energy claptrap.

With the world on the brink of an energy crisis driven by the US/Iran conflict, the Prime Minister must act decisively.

He should convene COBRA and engage major energy firms.

National energy security must be placed on a war footing.

All reliable domestic energy sources (including oil, gas, coal and fracking) should be developed in a targeted way.

The rush into intermittent energy should be put firmly on the back burner for the foreseeable future.

Ian Lakin, Milltimber, Aberdeen.

Déjà vu debacle

Here we are again. Only a few years ago we had a government in turmoil under the leadership of Boris Johnson.

That Government was dominated by sleaze, misjudgement, mismanagement, incompetence and cover-ups, yet it could have been this week in the House of Commons.

There was a feeling of déjà vu under the current Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. Due to a decision by the PM to appoint Peter Mandelson, the House of Commons spent a day discussing this major issue.

Important as it is, the global security crisis, the cost-of-living crisis and the upcoming devolved elections in the UK were off the agenda.

Actions of the Government speak volumes to voters and ultimately the country.

Catriona C Clark, Falkirk.

Reject Streeting’s comments

Londoner Wes Streeting is a Health Secretary from Stepney, who in January came out in support of self-determination for Greenland.

Yet he would block any hope of the 5.5 million inhabitants of Scotland enjoying the same freedom (“‘There’s been enough chaos’ – Streeting rules out indyref2”, The Herald, April 13).

As the British Medical Association (BMA) knows well, he speaks with a forked tongue.

Thankfully, Scotland does not have a crippling resident doctors' strike, as his writ does not extend here.

We can give our response to Mr Streeting on May 7.

John V Lloyd, Inverkeithing.

Brian Cox: Should he have a say in Scottish affairs? (Image: Colin Mearns)

Outside interference

Jane Lax complains of Scotsman Brian Cox commenting on events in Scotland, when he does not live here (Letters, April 22).

I don’t recall any complaint from Ms Lax regarding the persistent interference in Scotland’s politics, constitution and hum-drum daily life, from other people who live outside Scotland.

I wonder why?

GR Weir, Ochiltree.