Another account

So SNP MP Ian Blackford complains about 62 RBS branch banks closing in Scotland and wants the UK Government to intervene (your report, 20 December).

What exactly does he have in mind? RBS still owes the taxpayer more than £40 billion – should we pour more money into RBS so it can keep open little-used branches?

Banks are commercial operations, not public services. If Mr Blackford wants unprofitable Scottish branches to remain open to support the community, then he must lobby Nicola Sturgeon to increase taxes yet further in Scotland, then transfer some of our hard-earned cash to RBS. In this way, Scots can pay for bank branches, just as we pay for libraries and community centres.

It doesn’t really sound like a vote winner, does it? Or even sensible. But it does illustrate that nothing is free. From tuition fees to baby boxes, everything has to be paid for by the taxpayer – as we in Scotland are beginning to learn the hard way.

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh