An insult to devolution

Sir, – What lies behind Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson’s decision to compensate armed forces personnel in Scotland for tax increases introduced by the Scottish government (“Armed forces personnel to get top-ups on salaries”, The Courier, July 19)?

This is not simply disrespectful to devolution north of the border.

It will require taxpayers here to finance the compensation.

The money for defence comes from the Treasury in London to which Scotland pays a considerable share.

So Holyrood (that involves you and me) takes money away from those in the military earning above £33,000, but Westminster (that involves you and me too) gives it straight back to them.

Why give the Scottish parliament the powers to raise and lower taxation if it is then to be treated in such a disdainful way?

Everyone living north of the border, whatever their occupation, ought to be equal before the law. This certainly applies to fiscal measures.

To be blunt, we should all be prepared to take the rough with the smooth.

People in the armed services may, like others, have to bear the brunt of taxes, but they can also avail themselves of the free services those taxes help to finance.

If it was the intention to treat the armed services differently from other sections of the population, this should have been considered when the devolution legislation was drafted.

As it is, Mr Williamson seems intent on giving them preferential treatment to appease his Scottish Conservative MPs, who have so faithfully supported the prime minister over Brexit.

He has set a very nasty precedent in doing so. Bob Taylor.

24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.