In a true democracy, we would have a functioning NHS

More than 50% of our hard-earned taxes that are spent on the NHS goes directly on staff wages and is returned to the economy; having insufficient staff is therefore counterproductive in more ways than one. Much of the remaining NHS budget goes straight to the coffers of a system dominated and controlled by a pharmaceutical industry that isn’t interested in finding cures but only wants to treat symptoms. Waiting lists should not exist never mind be increasing and they wouldn’t exist were the NHS to be properly funded and adequately staffed.

The NHS budget for Scotland this year is approximately £16billion, meanwhile Westminster will hand over £83billion of UK taxes in interest payments to the self-regulating international banking community on the £2.6trillion UK national debt. Money ultimately generated by the efforts of the general public is used to pay interest on money created from thin air. It is mind over matter again, they don’t mind and we don’t matter and in a true functioning democracy this would not be happening and we would have a functioning NHS.

David J Crawford, Glasgow

Lessons of the last council-tax freeze

TOM Arthur, the SNP public finance minister, said back in August that their party had listened to calls for the council tax system to be made fairer. SNP ministers insisted it would make the controversial council tax system fairer by asking the wealthiest Scots to pay more – in some cases up to 22.5% more.

That was some U-turn today with Humza Yousaf now freezing council tax for the next year, claiming that’s the SNP delivering for people when they need it the most. How are councils going to provide good school meals, maintain library services, keep our bins emptied and look after the roads when there is no increase in council tax?

You could almost think that the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election had led to this volte-face. The SNP have learnt nothing from the many years of council tax freeze where our local authorities were unable to maintain the level of services that local residents deserve.

Jane Lax, Aberlour

Councils will be forced to rethink

THE council tax freeze announced by Humza Yousaf will be welcomed by every householder in Scotland. I would say it will not be welcomed by local councils. When he was in charge of Scotland’s finances, John Swinney had council tax frozen for nine years which is part of the reason councils are now struggling financially. The councils will now have to re-think their plans for next year and it looks like more cuts to services will be on the way.

Ian Balloch, Grangemouth

The delusion of a new age

THE never-ending call from the SNP is as expected for independence. But economically, structurally and politically Scotland is less sound than it was when the Scottish Parliament was re-inaugurated in 1998.

Historically, of course, it was the disastrous state of Scotland’s economy which led to the transfer of government to London back in 1707. The SNP may be classed as idealists, but they are by no means realists. Without the huge annual subsidies to the Scottish economy from Westminster, via the Barnett Formula, Scotland would become one of the poorest countries in Europe – and there would be no hope of economic assistance from the EU. So where on earth do the nationalists think the funds would come from to keep Scotland solvent?

First Minister Humza Yousaf is most certainly deluding himself if he really believes that he can lead Scotland into a new age of prosperity. A change of administration at Holyrood must be seen as a priority for Scotland’s sake. This farce of a Scottish Government must be stopped in its tracks before any further harm is caused to this great wee part of the British Isles.

Robert I G Scott, Ceres, Fife

Hugs and kisses, tea and tears

ARE we to believe that it was quite fortuitous during Nicola Sturgeon's "surprise " appearance at the SNP conference they just happened to have a (short) video montage of her career highlights or was this yet another orchestrated headline grabbing warm-up act for the main event of the week?

As she descended the escalator from above, into the waiting arms of her adoring flock, their eyes streaming tears of emotion, it was much like the homecoming of a long-lost relative arriving home just in time for the funeral service of a much-loved old friend. In many respects that is exactly what it was, hugs and kisses, tea and tears over the demise of the dearly departed SNP.

No amount of waffling reviews and marketing hyperbole can turn a turkey into a classic movie or her X-rated performance in office into a happy-ever-after fairy story.

Allan Thompson, Glasgow

Be very wary of predictions

ON reading Peter A Russell's prediction that "the SNP [...] has no chance whatsoever of attaining its main goal of Scottish independence" (Letters, October 18) my first thought was to wonder if he had a tip or two for the 1.30 at Ayr Races. My second thought was to recall famous quotes from the past such as "The American people have no wish for independence" (George II) and "The Titanic is unsinkable" (various attributions).

I'll stick with the pin.

John Jamieson, Ayr

The wise words of Denis

MY thanks to Peter A Russell for commenting on my letter, but in referring to "that great social democrat the late Denis Healey" he is quite wrong to suggest that I would have been disappointed in Lord Healey. On the contrary, I commend Lord Healey for admitting that UK governments downplayed figures on Scotland's oil wealth and that the Unionist parties were "worried stiff" about losing the oil revenues. Lord Healey claimed that "an independent Scotland would survive perfectly well" and that the rest of the UK "would just have to adjust". Wise words indeed.

I won't be taking Mr Russell's advice that in order to avoid disappointment I should "steer well clear of the SNP". Confined to barracks due to a heavy cold I suffered no disappointment watching the SNP conference online, and I felt proud and thankful while listening to Humza Yousaf's speech to conference that my party is led by a man of integrity, compassion, and with confidence in, and a vision for Scotland standing tall as an outward-looking, independent European nation. Denis Healey may well have approved.

Ruth Marr, Stirling

Tories should disown Johnson

AT the Covid enquiry, we hear that Boris Johnson not only rubbished the impact of long Covid but he managed to rubbish Gulf War Syndrome, thus insulting all those troops who served in that conflict. Clearly his disrespect for the British public also stretches to cover those who serve their country. It is high time the Conservative party disowned and threw him out for his views.

Bill Eadie, Glasgow

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The legitimacy of a mandate

MARTIN Redfern is dismayed that the SNP want to use the same “most MPs +1” measure of public support as Labour/Tory parties do for legitimising mandates. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has only recognised the English tradition on “sovereign will”, a judicial parti pris on their part. Scotland has already faced a referendum veto from the Anglo-British leaders of UK parties, in spite of them previously agreeing (quotes are available) that electoral majorities would suffice to justify a second referendum.

Northern Ireland already has the “right to self-determination” recognised in the UK constitution because of paramilitary violence (threatening again). Half of Scotland (in spite of a hugely partisan media) want independence, but there are zero proposals from Labour/Tory parties to defuse this aspiration. Surely all the unionists (judges, politicians and letter writers) are not waiting for paramilitaries to shift the dial in Scotland?

GR Weir, Ochiltree

Confusion more than clarity

“I WANT to be clear with you”. When I hear any politician utter these words, I am now very clear that I should prepare to contact confused.com.

Jim Proctor, Paisley