Readers' Letters: Get ready for return of the SNP/Greens alliance

At the same time, the emergence of Reform, with the protest vote it is likely to attract, means that support will be spread across six mainstream parties competing for seats. Both developments benefit the Scottish National Party.

Polling indicates that the SNP retains a core level of support at around 30 per cent. In a fragmented contest, that may well be sufficient to secure a dominant share of constituency seats.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens are well placed to benefit from the mechanics of the additional member system as well as tactical voting by independence supporters whose constituency vote has gone to the SNP. Despite fewer than 10 per cent of voters supporting their radical policies, they are likely to return a disproportionate number of MSPs via regional lists. Such an outcome would likely allow John Swinney, with Green support, to continue as first minister.

Beyond gimmicks such as “free” school bags, there are three eye-catching issues front and centre of the SNP campaign: holding an independence referendum in 2028 leading to independence in 2031; cutting energy bills by over a third; and introducing a price cap on essential foods. There is no detail beyond the headlines and some empty rhetoric as to how these ambitions will be achieved; it is not in the power of the SNP to deliver any of them.

But, for the SNP, that does not matter. Their aim is not to persuade a majority of the electorate that they will deliver these policies; they won’t. Rather the objective is to motivate their core support to vote. If they succeed the SNP is very likely to remain in power, which is the limit of their ambitions. Depressingly, we can expect the next five years in Scotland to be very similar to the previous ten years.

George Rennie, Inverness

Out of ideas

Another day, and another pile of election letters in the post. Have most of the parties outwith government no better offering than “STOP THE SNP”? Every leaflet suggests that by voting for their party, you can STOP THE SNP! No ideas for government or ways to make things better. Only STOP THE SNP!

In the absence of any intelligent options, why would I vote for any of them?

Brian Bannatyne-Scott, Edinburgh

Read the room

If there is one thing that gets up my nose, it’s so-called Scottish nationalists who leave the SNP “absolutely disgusted” and “ashamed of being a member” just before an important election is due to take place and their latest book is about to be published, getting them front page coverage in the papers.

Gordon Wright, Edinburgh

Four thoughts

Yesterday’s Scotsman gave us four letters criticising the words of reader Herbert Petrie for having the audacity to offer some hope for a brighter future beyond the reality of broken Britain.

How sad it is that some have so little confidence in their fellow Scots to the extent that despite our huge natural resources they seem to think we cannot prosper, unlike many other small European countries, independently of a more-populous neighbour. And what makes this sorry situation even worse is that not one of these letters offers an alternative to the failing UK status quo or to independence.

The issue is not when Scotland will join the EU, as highlighted by Jill Stephenson, but whether Scotland, as an independent country will join EFTA or the EEA in the meantime. Either membership will improve Scotland’s trading position, even if England were to recklessly erect trade barriers on the services which represent the bulk of trade with our southern neighbour.

Misrepresenting the funds returned to Scotland via the Barnett formula is nothing new to these pages, but Doug Morrison should note that over £90 billion are generated in tax receipts by Scotland and that Barnett accounts for only around half of these. Where Mr Morrison appears confused is that Scotland is notionally assigned costs that it did not incur, such as around £10bn annually in interest on £3 trillion of UK debt (substantially incurred in financing the infrastructure and prosperity of the south-east of this island).

Brian Carson mocks comparison with Ireland, but from a low base of infrastructure with limited natural resources and a seemingly significant trade dependence on England, most would objectively assess that Ireland has made huge progress in recent years across a broad range of economic and social sectors, albeit with a helping hand from the European Union.

“Fiscal competence” is the cry from Martin O’Gorman yet he ignores the fiscal incompetence of Westminster (Truss et al), which has blighted all the nations of these islands, while making the mistake of correlating the performance of an SNP devolved government (limited due to the overriding powers of Westminster) with a new independent government which may include few, if any, SNP ministers.

Those who remain uninspired by the confidence and success of the many small countries previously governed by Britain, including Ireland, should seriously question whether their largely unfounded fears are denying hope, not just for themselves and their families, but for their friends and neighbours.

Stan Grodynski, Longniddry, East Lothian

Impressive

I have been impressed by the level of scrutiny and rigour that has been applied by politicians of all parties in Westminster when gathering more insight into the Peter Mandelson appointment by way of the Select Committee process.

I was going to compare the performance of politicians at Holyrood in the equivalent committees but l cannot recall anything.

Kenneth Harvey, Edinburgh

Hover-wood?

The report on the critically endangered pine hoverfly that has been released into the Cairngorms National Park (21 April) is so positive with the impact it will have on forest ecosystems “acting both as pollinators and waste removers”. They clearly can do such a good job for Scotland. Is there any way we could have them introduced at Holyrood too?

Jane Lax, Aberlour, Moray

Abandon Ukraine

In response to Britain's refusal to support the US with assistance on the US-Iran war, Donald Trump threatened to revise the terms of last year's historic trade deal between London and Washington. This could not only strip our relations of its “special” status but also lead to a significant increase in tariffs on British car imports, steel and aluminium, which would be a critical blow to the UK's already limping economy.

There are many problems within the country. As discontent among British farmers grows over diesel prices exceeding £2 per litre, the threat of mass protests increases. Reform UK is adding fuel to the fire by demanding Chancellor Rachel Reeves take urgent measures to cut fuel taxes. Thus, the party is using the price of petrol and diesel as a key tool to win over voters.

Instead of addressing the problems, the government continues to sponsor Ukraine and promote the British arms lobby. Recently, the UK announced a new package of military assistance to Kyiv, which would include at least 120,000 drones.

We have long turned a blind eye to controversial government decisions, such as reduction of social benefits, as well as migration policies. However, everything has its limits. I'm firmly convinced it is high time we stood up to Keir Starmer and reminded him that his primary responsibility is the wellbeing of the citizens of Great Britain, not his personal ambitions or the advancement of third-party interests.

Iain Brocklebank, Glasgow

Act for arthritis

The publication of the election manifestos from the major Scottish political parties in recent weeks will have been met with disappointment from the 1.7 million Scots living with a musculoskeletal (MSK) condition.

A handful of commitments made on tackling waiting times and improving digital healthcare across NHS Scotland are to be cautiously welcomed. But it is clear that none of Scotland’s political parties have a credible plan to address the biggest cause of pain, disability and lost productivity in our country.

A group of long-term conditions impacting one in three adults in Scotland received not a single mention in any of the manifestos. What kind of message does this silence send to Scots living with arthritis and MSK conditions?

Our recent Arthritis UK and YouGov polling of those living with arthritis found 62 per cent say they live in pain most or all the time due to their arthritis. They are 20 per cent less likely to be in work than people without arthritis, and people in the poorest communities are hit hardest. Their needs are not being addressed, and people are paying the price.

A newly elected parliament and government is a fresh opportunity for our politicians to end this silence and laser-focus on creating a healthier Scotland. Tackling MSK conditions must surely be part of any such vision. That is why the next Scottish government must make MSK a strategic priority, reduce orthopaedic waiting times, improve services and deliver a long-term plan for better musculoskeletal health.

Lauren Bennie, Head of Scotland, Arthritis UK

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