Reject demands

What a turnaround! They say you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer. The Scottish Greens are fast becoming the enemies of the Scottish National Party (“Government told to pay up over public sector wage rise”, Scotsman, 22 January). The Greens’ exorbitant demand for £250 million extra has to be funded by more taxation of those with the perceived “ability to pay”.

It should be noted that the Green Party won zero constituency seats in the 2016 Holyrood election and were given six seats by way of the regional vote. They therefore actually represent no one, but by the eccentricities of our voting system have more power than even the Liberal Democrats, who polled a huge number more of first preference votes.

Under these circumstances democracy will be ill-served if the few votes cast for the Greens manage to coerce the SNP into this hugely damaging tax increase.

If Finance Secretary Derek Mackay truly believes the budget he set in December is the correct one, then the SNP are duty bound to reject the Greens proposals. (DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow