Life lopsided

Ian Martin MP (3 January) tells us that “The Scottish parliament [is] one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world”, but like other politicians who make this frequent claim, he fails to tell us who ranks below Scotland in the devolution league.

That’s because the other “devolved parliaments” do not exist. Nova Scotia and New South Wales – for example – are not “devolved”. They enjoy self government as part of a federal state. In our islands, however, the “undevolved” English administration and the so-called “British” government are one and the same thing.

Irrespective of Brexit or Scexit, the “politics of grievance” are likely to continue – on all sides of our borders – as long as this lopsided arrangement persists.

JOHN COUTTS Ladysneuk Road, Stirling

Colin Hamilton (Letters, 2 January) writes that an independent Scotland “could not afford to be so open-handed” in paying university tuition fees and other benefits. He appears to share the view that Scotland is “too wee, too poor, too stupid” to manage independence. On the contrary, the prosperity of similarly-sized countries in Northern Europe, and the success of people of Scottish origin in helping to run other countries and large organisations, suggests that an independent Scotland could be more generous to good causes, both at home and worldwide, than a Scotland which remains part of the present UK and must help to pay for its military and other priorities.

DAVID STEVENSON Blacket Place, Edinburgh