Schools in longterm decline

Sir, – Jill Stephenson (Letters, June 29) takes a rather scattergun approach to her latest SNP diatribe.

Readers considering accepting her assertions at face value would do well to visit the websites Talking-up Scotland and Business For Scotland in order to get an alternative appraisal of the Scottish Government’s record. The former, in particular, includes copious links to reports and articles from non-partisan organisations in order to validate the site’s articles.

Ms Stephenson’s fellow Scotland in Union letter writer, Victor Clements, featured also, with education common to both contributions.

During a visit to the Central Library in Dundee, as part of a historical project, I trawled through old Courier clippings. One article, concerning education standards in Scotland at the time, struck me.

It read, “Education has reached a critical stage, with shortage of staff, large classes, lack of accommodation and part-time education being introduced in some parts of the country.”

The article was written in 1955.

More than half a century later, the SNP inherited this running mismanagement of our education system, one the reporter would no doubt recognise, along with the added financial burden of crumbling, Labour built, PFI schools, and a programme of Londonimposed austerity.

Instead of deflection, perhaps Ms Stephenson and Mr Clements will

I have heard it said that whether you support mass immigration or not depends on whether you are someone who eats in expensive restaurants, or has to work in one

provide us with a positive argument for continuation of Westminster control. There are, apparently, compelling reasons for doing so. It would be helpful if someone – anyone – would articulate them. Ken Clark. Thorter Way, Dundee.