Let’s put ideas into action

Sir, - Can Scotland accelerate our growth in incomes? George Kerevan, MP for East Lothian, believes we could.

But only if we first escape from the union with our neighbours.

We should accept an increase in our taxes, selloff our assets, cut public spending and accept five years of decline as our price for breaking away from the UK.

Then, we would be free at last.

Freed from our ties Mr Kerevan tells us, we would escape the chains of the low productivity of our neighbours.

It all sounds so wonderful, except for his promise of tax increases and cuts.

Hang on a minute. If we could increase our national income, why don’t we just go for that right now? Why do we need to wait?

Mr Kerevan is on the Westminster Treasury Committee as the SNP representative.

He could volunteer his recipe for this miraculous transformation to the committee.

He could also clarify to that committee just what difference we would enjoy by having a new Scottish pound pegged to the British pound.

How would that be different from our present arrangements?

Currently, we have Scottish bank pounds that are pegged to the British pound.

How would changing the name compensate us for his prediction of higher taxes, the sale of public properties and cuts to public services and jobs?

If we really can accelerate to a higher growth rate, let us do it now. Andrew Dundas. 34 Ross Avenue, Perth.