Perthshire Advertiser

Writer should be more cautiouswi­thSNP

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Mr Thomas Burgess (Your view, March 3), an indefatiga­ble defender of all things SNP, should be a little cautious despite his fervent support for the Nats.

The purpose of government being to get the best deal for all the nation’s voters, he should be critical of some of the SNP’s activities unless they successful­ly meet these responsibi­lities.

Since governing parties are not like football teams or a nation’s military forces on active service, politician­s are bound to perform best when aware of their electorate’s criticisms.

The SNP and the first minister are today battling on several fronts, so must strive for a balance between the voters’ and the nation’s vital needs.

Considerin­g the SNP’s current internal feuding and electionee­ring towards “independen­ce”, though within the EU, they seem in danger of not giving enough effort and time to their “day jobs”.

Any fair outside observer would question the financial soundness of the “freebies” they trumpet about, along with, for example, the fight against fuel poverty and climate changes.

These problems, only a very few of many with which the Scottish government grapples, have to be paid for with money from somewhere.

At present much of that comes from taxpayers down south via the Barnett formula.

If the SNP’s yearning for Scottish independen­ce and internal party stability takes too much time from stimulatio­n of wealth generation, the facade of their national achievemen­ts will remain just that.

The SNP and their supporters need to reflect on attaining a shrewd balance between political struggles and striving for national betterment.

Mr Burgess, do you believe that balance is being achieved now?

Name and address supplied

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