Readers’ Letters: Don't expect SNP government to end tragedy of homeless dying on our streets

It is a measure of their 18 years in power that a pretty fair guess at what will be done to counteract this tragedy can be made. A committee, or similar, will be formed, with an out-of-work ex-SNP apparatchik in charge, determined to get to the bottom of the tragedies. The result will be nothing of any worth whatsoever.

Meanwhile, a platoon of SNP special advisors will be set the task of finding, by hook or by crook, a city in England with worse figures. To the decision-makers in the SNP, that is of the greatest importance. When that is found they all heave a sigh relief and settle down to wait for the next task.

Meanwhile the tragedies on our streets will certainly worsen. When will we learn?

Alexander McKay, Edinburgh

Time to go, SNP

Labour has always held a strong position in the Scottish political scene. But if we are to see the SNP off, it will not be Keir Starmer who leads the charge against the Nationalists. Anas Sarwar, Jackie Baillie and Ian Murray, who served as Secretary of State for Scotland until 20 September, are the key Labour figures north of the so-called Border.

And let us not forget that it was a Labour/Liberal coalition which created the Scottish Executive, as it was known at its inauguration in May 1999.

The SNP has had its day, and under three leaders has failed to achieve its objectives, either in respect of Scottish independence or, more importantly, in its governance of Scotland.

The time for a change of administration at Holyrood is long overdue. We have already witnessed the demise of the SNP from Westminster. To quote from that traditional Scottish song: “Noo’s the time, and noo’s the hour”.

Robert I G Scott, Northfield, Ceres, Fife

Poor darlings

Edinburgh University staff are to strike for the third time over the prospect of losing their jobs (your report, 13 November).

Poor darlings. Welcome to the real world where thousands of people in the private sector and the oil and gas industries are being sacked every day. University staff have all enjoyed far better than average salaries and eye-watering pension contributions for too many years. Now that paying student numbers are dramatically falling there needs to be a reduced workforce.

Either that or they all need to volunteer to take a huge cut in salaries to keep others in jobs – but we know that will never happen.

Clark Cross, Linlithgow, West Lothian

Good news?

It is scarcely surprising that John Swinney is mightily chuffed by the news that two credit ratings agencies – S&P Global and Moody’s – have given Scotland a high investment grade rating for Scotland’s strong institutional framework, the strength and diversity of its economy and the government’s prudent financial management and low levels of debt.

On this basis, Mr Swinney will proceed with the introduction of a £1.5 billion bond issuance. But then he spoils it by saying that it is “the latest step in building the institutions and tools” – he might have said “levers” – for “a future where our country takes responsibility for its own decisions”, aka secession from the UK.

Why does that spoil it? Because Moody’s says that the rating “is not an indicative credit rating for an independent Scotland” and that “Scottish independence could exert downward pressure on the rating by introducing heightened uncertainty about the institutional framework and potentially raising financial stability risks”.

The more things change… Scotland is a good risk as long as it remains in the UK.

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh

Spinning statistics

Regardless of your politics, the rebuttal by the Scottish Government spokesperson to the opposition challenge and report by Audit Scotland that the economy has a “shrinking tax base” and is in a “doom loop” (your report, 13 November) itself needs challenged.

The quote given states: “Since 2007, GDP per person in Scotland has grown faster than the UK, with productivity increasing at more than twice the rate of the UK as a whole.” Factually accurate, according to official statistics, and therefore good news – apparently!

Take a minute for further reflection. Both these statistics are the product of a ratio calculation. For example, there is a “GDP” numerator and “population” denominator. And when these elements are considered separately, a very different message seems to emerge.

Over the period, Scotland’s average annual GDP growth rate (onshore) was “actually“ 0.3-0.4 per cent “below” the UK average. Moreover, the cumulative gap “actually” widened – due, inter alia, to well-rehearsed factors such as lower rates of business formation, regional disparities and greater reliance on the public sector etc.

Also, the growth of Scotland’s population has “actually” been slower than that in the UK as a whole. And the Scottish workforce is ageing quickly. Both are signs of a less-than dynamic economy.

These factors also help explain Scotland’s “apparently” higher rate of productivity growth!

The well-worn adage popularised by Mark Twain, “lies, damn lies, and statistics”, again comes to mind. Don’t blindside the public. Less spin – more transparency and honesty please!

Ewen Peters, Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire

Who’s in charge?

In response to DW Lowden (Letters, 13 November) I have already pointed out (Letters, 7 November) that it is the Scottish Government that has control of planning permission for pylons (and everything else) within our borders.

(Dr) A McCormick, Terregles, Dumfries

Don’t destabilise

Not before time, senior military figures have protested strongly about Labour’s Northern Ireland Troubles Bill, citing the “exodus” of special forces troops amid fears they could be in court years later for missions carried out in our defence.

As the son of a Second World War Royal Engineer whose efforts, especially in Sicily and Italy, and those of millions of others meant my generation never faced a call-up, I’m infuriated by the efforts of those who want to destabilise my country.

Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Empty pledges

It is interesting to note the pledge made by Anas Sarwar to devolve power out of Holyrood if he obtains the keys for Bute House in 2026 (Editorial, 10 November).

However, it should be noted that the SNP made a similar pledge to “incorporate into Scots Law the European Charter of Local Self-Government” on 3 December 2020 as part of their 2021 manifesto.

Needless to say, that pledge was dumped into the nearest wastebin once the 2021 votes had been counted.

Surely if opposition parties secure two-thirds of the votes in 2026 then, even without the keys to Bute House, Anas Sarwar could form a coalition of the willing to vote through the draft Andy Wightman bill on the topic if John Swinney pledges not to block an initiative the SNP have agreed to support!

Ian Moir, Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway

Who renews?

With thousands of self-righteous, hypocritical, millionaire delegates jetting in to COP30 in Brazil to tell the rest of us what to do. What comes next?

Prominent German energy expert Dr Lars Schernikau has said: “The energy transition in its current form, as a grid-scale build out of wind and solar with the goal to replace oil, coal and gas, is probably one of the greatest mistakes that humanity has ever made.”

Millions of ageing wind turbines and solar panels have now passed their use by dates and are on their way to landfills. While steel, aluminium, copper and other metals can be scavenged from what’s left of a wind turbine carcass, the 10-30 tonne blades filled with highly toxic Bisphenol-A are cut up, crushed and dumped, often illegally.

Solar panels are also secretly buried. Despite claims about panels being recycled, they never are.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) calculates solar panel waste will reach 78 million metric tonnes by 2050!

The pathetically short life expectancy of a wind turbine or solar panel compares miserably with the multigenerational life expectancy of a nuclear-powered plant.

Before we wreck our precious landscapes and seascapes any further, it must be urgently asked, who will constantly renew the “renewables”, and at what astronomical and ecological cost?

George Herraghty, Elgin, Moray

Blow me!

One of the leading items on our local television news in Australia was the bagpipe record (“Bagpipe record smashed in tribute to AC/DC’S Bon Scott”, 13 November). I didn't think it would make worldwide news although if any country was to report on it, Scotland – and The Scotsman – would be the obvious choice.

It took quite a while as people worked to tune their bagpipes, a task that I thought was impossible.

The actual AC/DC concert was so loud that it was detected by earthquake monitoring equipment.

Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia

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