Subsidy myth

I congratulate Alan Reid for having fielded somebody from the substitutes’ bench to respond to my letter. It is certainly time he was rested: he must be exhausted addressing all of those letters delivered by mail and compiling advertisements for the press.

I refer, of course, to Margaret Horrell, who, whilst agreeing with me that the NHS in Scotland delivers a better service than in England, claims that this is only because England subsidises Scotland.

She says that the Barnett formula delivers Scotland 25 per cent more to spend on public services compared to England. It’s actually 20 per cent but I can’t disagree with the essential truth.

However, I would offer clarification on two points. Firstly, it is a formula which takes account of many factors, including the infrastructure required to deliver services to a thinly spread population and, secondly, the money comes not from England but from the UK Treasury to which Scotland contributes more than its fair share.

The subsidy myth was frequently touted during the ‘project fear’ campaign by Better Together alongside ‘you can’t use the pound’ and ‘you won’t be in the EU’, all of which have been thoroughly debunked to the extent that they are seldom resurrected these days.

I have no problem with anybody opposing Scotland’s independence. I disagree but it is a perfectly valid point of view even though based on emotion rather than logic.

However, I strongly object to opposition to a second referendum. Scotland’s future should be, and must be, Scotland’s choice. Such opposition is illiberal and undemocratic and ill comes from a ‘Liberal Democrat’, especially since they are pushing for a second EU referendum.

The only political parties registered in Scotland (as far as I know) are the SNP, the SSP and the Scottish Greens; all of them support independence.

The opposition comes from parties registered in London.

Rennie, Leonard and (pro tem) Jackson Carlaw are branch managers, not party leaders, and in the upcoming election I would urge Scots to vote for Scottish parties.

It is the best hope of avoiding another Conservative, or Conservative/LibDem coalition, government.

On the other point concerning borders, I will only say that it is Brexit that will lead to borders and that was not Scotland’s choice.

Every country that has ever become independent, and that includes 62 from the UK since 1939, have borders and have survived.

Finally, congratulations to Margaret, her letter could have been written by Alan Reid. Tony Williams, Grumpy Old Man, Muasdale.