Readers' Letters: There's no accountability in SNP Scotland

This from the leader of a party whose anti-fossil fuel policies led directly to the imminent closure of Grangemouth and Mossmorran. Such economic sabotage is precisely the kind of SNP “virtue signalling on an industrial scale” discussed by Jenny Lindsay (Perspective, 8 December) in an outstanding piece of political journalism.

She also highlights the effective takeover of “civic Scotland” by “Sturgeonite loyalists who remain in post, while Nicola Sturgeon enjoys the canapes and deferential hospitality of book festival green rooms”.

Swathes of local authorities, public bodies, government departments, quangos and de facto quangos are led by highly paid, unaccountable, entitled mandarins appointed during Sturgeon’s tenure.

These organisations trumpet a false commitment to transparency and accountability while practising the exact opposite.

Carol Potter, CEO of NHS Fife during the Nurse Peggie debacle, is an example cited by Ms Lindsay. We learn that Ms Potter will (of course) be going into lucrative “early retirement” rather than face any consequences.

The late Tam Dalyell MP warned that devolution would simply provide separatists with “a motorway to independence”.

It hasn’t, but it’s given them the power to cause irreparable harm to Scotland.

Maybe we do need another referendum, this time on whether to retain the costly Holyrood parliament which has served us so badly.

Martin O’Gorman, Edinburgh

Read Burns

The most noticeable effect of Reform’s growing presence in Scotland has been the high moral tone adopted by the SNP leadership, and especially by John Swinney.

This has been evident in SNP propaganda about immigrants, about how “welcoming” the SNP and, by alleged extension, Scotland is. Mr Swinney intones sermons about other issues, boasting about Scotland’s generous welfare payments, which are possible only while Scotland is in the UK, receiving Barnett monies. Trumpeting his self-satisfied virtue, Mr Swinney casts his political adversaries as morally depraved.

He needs to read “Holy Willie’s Prayer” by Robert Burns: but so away with himself is he that perhaps he would not see reflected back at him the countenance of one J Swinney.

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh

Rights for all

Brian Forsyth (Letters, 6 December) is correct in saying that equality law allows for a trans person to be excluded from a single-sex service that matches their lived gender identity, but only when that is a proportionate means to a legitimate aim, decided on a case-by-case basis. Trans inclusion is lawful, and exclusion is permitted only where necessary. The Scottish Prison Service has implemented that policy for years.

The problem now is that anti-trans organisations are using April's Supreme Court judgment on the Equality Act as a lever to argue that trans people should all and always be excluded, regardless of proportionality or the details of the case.

The group For Women Scotland are taking court action to try to impose that on the prison service.

Unfortunately, the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) initial guidance on the Supreme Court judgment, their “interim update” issued just days after the judgment, also implied trans people should be excluded as standard.

That update is now subject to a court challenge, and has been removed from the EHRC's website.

As of last week, we have a new chair of the EHRC, Mary-Ann Stephenson. I hope that, under Dr Stephenson's leadership the EHRC can regain a position that balances and upholds the needs and rights of everyone.

Tim Hopkins, Edinburgh

A taxing tale

You would have to be naive to believe the story of Jesus's parents having to go to Bethlehem for a Roman taxation (they lived far away in Galilee). Luke used the taxation, which only involved land owners anyway, as a device to have Jesus born in Bethlehem, so as to fulfil the prophecy of Micah 5:2 (“from Bethlehem will come a ruler for Israel”). The taxation would not have required such a chaotic mass movement. Jesus came from Galilee, probably Capernaum.

Steuart Campbell, Edinburgh

Gie’s a break

Throughout the ages nationalism has presented man with countless problems and challenges. History is inundated with accounts of the divisions caused by man's failure to integrate with neighbouring tribes or countries. The situation in the UK is relatively minor compared with disagreements on a global scale, and yet the age-old dispute between England/Scotland is still with us today.

The mythical “Border” has been made totally obsolete by motorways and national railways between Scotland and England – as they were referred to historically. Additionally, many families are scattered over both sides of this Border. Yet unbelievably, a minority of politicians still cling to Scottish Nationalist beliefs.

There is little doubt that in spring 2026 we Scots will see an impotent cause such as that of the SNP “hoist by its own petard”. There will not be a glorious victory in the Holyrood elections for Swinney et al.

A change of Government at Holyrood is long overdue. We have endured 18 years of SNP administrations, with a hint of Green interference. Thus the message to this totally ineffective SNP Government, and its current leader is “Gie’s a break, John!”

Robert I G Scott, Northfield, Ceres, Fife

Support vulnerable

Nigel Farage claims that nearly one in three Glasgow pupils do not speak English as their first language, and that this is “unfair on taxpayers”, as he continues his spreading of fear and division.

Having children whose first language is not English has a positive impact on the classroom, enriching the experience for other children and enhancing diversity.

Indeed, research indicates that multilingual pupils in schools outperform their peers. Additionally, solely English-speaking children in multilingual classrooms perform better across many measures than those who aren’t, raising overall standards. This clearly delivers positive impacts on society and the economy, both at school and in later life.

Much to Mr Farage’s annoyance, I am sure, the majority of the world is multilingual, when, in his mind, everyone should speak English.

Reform’s divisive agenda will only escalate in advance of the Holyrood elections, and we must do all we can to support those in our communities who have made Scotland their home and are naturally feeling increasingly vulnerable.

Alex Orr, Edinburgh

The long spoon

Over the years I’ve watched politicians like Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. They all stirred up opinion, for good or ill – sometimes inspiring strikes, protests or even violence. And when challenged, they would all say, “I did it for the good of the country.”

Many politicians make deals with the devil – and always keep a long spoon handy. The spoon keeps them at a safe distance, allowing them to stir up division while avoiding the consequences. And when the fallout comes, they protest innocence: “It was for our own good,” or, “I would never tell anyone to do that. Terrible!”

The most recent member of this club is Nigel Farage, and he takes things one step further. In the familiar pattern, he stirs up division, discontent and anger, insisting he takes the steps others fear. He is “dining with the devil,” as many have before. But the question is, does he have a long enough spoon? The real truth is that politicians like Farage have an alternative saying, one that reveals their true philosophy: “An’ the de’il take the hindmost.”

And so I say, like Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol, “God bless them, everyone”!

Judith Campbell, Portree, Isle of Skye

Nul points

For what it's worth, Israel shouldn't be competing in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. In defiance of the ceasefire, brokered by Donald Trump, which is a ceasefire only in name, Israel is still inflicting casualties in the West Bank, and indeed, in Gaza itself.

Amazingly, and without any hint of irony, Benjamin Netanyahu is stating that Israel is ready to move on to the second phase of the ceasefire. The first phase is perilously close to collapsing.

In a principled stand against Israel's inclusion in Eurovision, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia are boycotting the contest altogether, with the real likelihood of others to follow. I'm greatly disappointed that the UK is not in that number – yet, anyway. It's another example of our prevarication towards Israel's unacceptable behaviour throughout the Middle East and in Gaza, in particular. It's not too late for Israel to be excluded and be replaced by the “state” of Palestine.

Ian Petrie, Edinburgh

Own goal

The 2026 World Cup is already throwing up some bizarre results.

If Donald Trump can win the FIFA Peace Prize, I’m putting my money on Curaçao to go all the way.

D Mitchell, Doune, Perthshire

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