HOW interesting to read Hamish MacPherson recount the rise of the SNP as a credible political force over the last 50 and more years (October 7).
What I’d like to understand is what happened within the SNP to get us to where we are now, where the support for the party is dissipating, where indy has increased in popularity to 50% (campaigning would increase this further) yet there is no advance in the campaign to bring it about?
Why is Scotland losing impetus for indy while there is a morass of debate within the chattering classes that can’t break through the Unionist ceiling?
READ MORE: First council of nations and regions meeting slammed as ‘insult’ to Scotland
Why are are we having to sit back and witness devolution being devalued through the internal market legislation, Westminster bypassing the Scottish Parliament to disburse funds directly within Scotland, and with the Council for the Nations and Regions, which bypasses even our supposed democratic processes?
Meanwhile our Scottish Government makes no protest; rather, when Westminster calls us to heel, FM Swinney immediately falls into line and declares his intention to acquiesce rather than seeking the authority of the parliament before doing so.
All while we have spent 10 years passing up the many opportunities the appalling Tory government offered to justify the independence we deserve and which is our fundamental right.
READ MORE: Anger as Keir Starmer 'excludes' Scottish cities from key meeting
It is sickening that we have a huge, vibrant indy desire lurking below the Unionist waves while even the scant political powers of the devolution tip of our indy iceberg bobs on the surface, unconcerned that it is heading south for Westminster-contrived meltdown. Seemingly politically naive, John Swinney has no mandate to attend Starmer’s power-stripping Council ruse; he’s meekly accepted being directed by Starmer and the Unionists up a blind alley. Shouldn’t we be asking why, telling him we don’t want to go there and allow the indy can to be kicked even farther down the road?
No serious indy party would allow this to happen. Swinney needs to rethink his acceptance of this faux-power-absorbing Council of Nations and Regions.
The only solution to Scotland’s problems is to achieve the full political and fiscal powers of independence. Westminster politicking to ameliorate our demands just doesn’t cut it.
Jim Taylor
Scotland
IF you ever have a perusal of what I would term “pro-indy Twitter” accounts, reference is often made to our oil, our renewables, our whisky etc, usually with the suggestion that these resources make Scotland a wealthy country. The fact is, however, that these resources are all in private hands, usually hands resident elsewhere, and this simply acts as a siphon for removing Scotland’s wealth and off-shoring it to wealthy individuals and corporations.
This is why GDP figures tell you next to nothing about the economic and social health of a nation. While the cash goes elsewhere (abroad or to a tiny elite), poverty and inequality is left behind.
READ MORE: Zonal energy pricing could boost Scottish economy, says Octopus Energy boss
Consequently, the Scottish Socialist Party’s Richie Venton is 100% correct to call for democratic public ownership (Oct 8). He also highlights the fact that neither Labour nor the SNP will do anything of substance to improve the lives of our people, whether within the UK or in an independent Scotland. They will always bow to their corporate masters and serve them rather than the people. Just compare the number of lobbying meetings the Scottish and UK governments hold with corporate interests compared to social or workers’ organisations! The latter is a tiny fraction of the former.
David Stevenson
Cambuslang
RECENTLY The National had an article and at least one letter praising the Irish government for having a surplus presumably to show what an independent country can do if only Scotland would follow.
It did not sound right to me at the time and I now know why. It is the old problem of assuming that the finances of a government with its own currency work the same way as those of a household or a business.
Before anyone points out that Ireland uses the euro, a shared currency, it is the case that under EU rules every government in the Eurozone can create its own money within the limits agreed with the European Central Bank, so Ireland can “find the money”.
READ MORE: Scots could get free electricity from zonal pricing, Octopus Energy boss says
Having a surplus in a household does mean we have money to spend, but for a country like Ireland it means money has been taken out of the economy.
So, less for the public to spend, and that is not considered a good thing because it can readily bring on a recession.
It is also worth remembering how Ireland acquired its surplus. Ireland is a tax haven so attracts multinational companies wanting to reduce their tax liabilities. They record their income from their activities across Europe, not just in Ireland, to take advantage of Ireland’s easier tax regime.
In addition, Ireland may be top dog in world rugby but all is not well in the country. It has a huge housing crisis, and poverty outside of Dublin is a major issue as inequality widens. We can certainly envy Ireland’s independence but let’s not assume everything is rosy as a consequence.
Andrew M Fraser
Inverness
IN response to Amanda Baker’s letter regarding slogans (Oct 7), how about “Get Scotland Free”? Or for us less cultured, “up thine, Westminster”?
M Ross
Aviemore
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