IT was reassuring to read two letters revealing that I am not alone in my fears anent the long-established, devious plans to make Scotland “too poor” to sustain independence.
I suspect the McCrone Report first made the Westminster government aware of the risks to the Union from Scotland becoming wealthy. Thus the strategy was born, just as demands were beginning for devolution, and led to the 40% rule to defeat the ’79 referendum. From then, at every opportunity, Scotland was portrayed as dependent on largesse from London, with the GERS figures following made up, as has been admitted, almost entirely of estimates.
READ MORE: Wake up to the reality of a UK desperate to retain its last colony
Devolution, they thought, put Scotland once more “back in its box”, and they really thought that independence was dead. But the idea grew again and so the plans had to be reactivated. Anything of economic benefit to Scotland had to be destroyed. Then followed a litany of projects of benefit to our economy being deliberately blocked.
For example, carbon capture, a Scottish invention, ready to pilot at Peterhead, touted as of huge potential benefit to Scotland’s economy. Therein lay the problem – our economic benefit. So it was refused funding. Then Westminster offered £1bn prize for a power station to pilot it. When all finally dropped out bar Peterhead, the competition was scrapped.
Other Scottish “firsts” fared similarly, particularly the renewables sector, such as wave and tidal, with research funding removed, as with the green energy project mentioned in Mr McCartney’s letter (January 18).
READ MORE: Leading Dutch newspaper puts spotlight on Nicola Sturgeon and independence
Now, I firmly believe that the Brexit fishing outcome was exactly as planned. Having identified that they could decimate that industry, which represented 70% of UK fishing, almost at a stroke, they saw it as ideal to create an immediate hit on the Scottish economy. That it was a “red line” until the last minute was a sham, to take the industry by surprise. It also served to distract from all the powers being grabbed and used directly by Westminster through their new hubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
For me, the most bitter pill to swallow now is the inaction of our Scottish Government. Scotland has been campaigning for independence for years, has a huge army of enthusiastic activists, yet it is the Welsh who are taking positive, legal action and we are merely “supporting” them. Why were we not leading, instead of waiting until we can only hang on their coat-tails? When will we make a stand instead of talking?
L McGregor
Falkirk
I DO not know who to be angry at – but angry I am! Andrew Learmonth’s article in Tuesday’s paper is deeply worrying, especially in its reference to the shady ScotlandVaxFACTS input (MP bids to stop Scots vaccine ‘disinformation’, January 19).
This is clearly part of the pre-election campaign to discredit the Scottish Government, and Stewart McDonald MP is mostly to be supported in taking this matter up.
READ MORE: SNP MP bids to get vaccine 'misinformation' with links to LibDems shut down
Nevertheless, here I am, 84 years of age, and with a number of serious health issues, still waiting for a vaccine, while I hear from my brother- and sister-in-law in Berkshire, that they have both had their vaccinations at age early 70s! Boris Johnson’s dad is said to have had his.
I am also aware that there are complaints from GP groups, in England as well as Scotland, including one in Kent, where the current mutation developed, who are unable to get supplies.
I believe the current policy is to have all over-80s in Scotland offered the jag by mid-February; too late for me to avoid my cancellation of two important outpatient appointments, as I am not prepared to risk undue exposure to the rampant English mutation until at least two weeks after my vaccination has taken place.
Andrew McCrae
Gourock
IT has become more and more obvious to me that I have not been wired up properly to exist in the age of computers.
Firstly the dark secrets of my heritage unlocked by my DNA is currently being held in a computer in the United States which refuses to recognise my password, and has not yet replied to the request for a new one through my emails.
My blue badge renewal is now five months out of date as the council have furloughed their staff.
Thirdly, a purchase from Amazon, a battery for my e-bike was a dud, but their call centre cannot help me, nor can I get sense out of any email correspondence I have had with them, as they both seem to operate following a kind of painting by numbers flowchart for complaints in front of them, which only allows them to claim there might be a breach of their security protocols, because my old email address (which I changed years ago and which I have no access to any more and may not even exist as I cannot open it) is the way they know it really is me. All this correspondence taking place between them and my current email address no bother?
IT was supposed to make our lives simpler, but not to me it doesn’t!
Roddy Maclean
Annan
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel