Last thing Scotland needs is higher taxes when we want to encourage business

According to Gill Turner (Letters, 2 February) UK GDP for 2017 is projected to be 1.5 per cent, although I find it recorded at 1.7 per cent. Still, this is in the right direction, despite figures being produced by the SNP and the Treasury to show dismal outcomes to Brexit. Predictions of the immediate effects of a vote to leave are still considerably more positive than Remoaners would like.

Who believes such figures when we know that both sources are well-known to be highly pro-eu? It is a little like asking an alcoholic what marks out of ten he would give an Irn Bru or a whisky. The result is in little doubt. However, for someone with a pro-snp and pro-remain attitude, surely Scotland’s dismal performance at 0.4 per cent by comparison in 2016 should have alarm bells ringing? The last thing Scotland needs when her administration should be showing an open door to business is to impose higher taxes to discourage businesses.

Moreover, why should Scottish taxpayers uniquely subsidise foreign students from the EU coming here and thereby restrict the number of university places Scottish students will have?

Scotland – and, indeed, the UK – should be lowering taxes to encourage industry to move here and create new jobs.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh

Last week’s opinion poll shows there is no evidence for William Ballantine’s assertion that the SNP’S sensible stance on Brexit is harming the cause of independence (Letters, 3 February) as Yes stands at 46 per cent with increasing support from women and younger voters.

The Scottish Government’s published assessment of Brexit impact was rubbished by the Conservatives but it turns out that the UK government’s secret report is remarkably similar, and despite the Scottish government producing amendments to the UK Withdrawal Bill last September, the UK has not brought forward any amendments to protect the devolution settlement.

While Scotland exports £45 billion to the rest of the UK, we import £60 billion which is a significant figure when the UK is risking its £240 billion export trade with the EU. So it is not in England’s interests to erect barriers against Scottish goods in the event we do vote for self-government in or out of Europe. Given Richard Leonard’s latest clueless performance at First Minister’s Questions and with Labour and Tories all over the place on Brexit, it is no surprise that support for the SNP remains 17 per cent ahead of both their nearest rivals.

MARY THOMAS Watson Crescent, Edinburgh

Brexit is beginning to feel a bit like a blind date: we know where we’re going, but not what we’re getting.

This lack of vision deriving from Theresa May’s cautious nature, which is arguably the characteristic that has allowed her premiership to survive this far, is no longer conducive to the country’s situation. The longer she remains the sort of amorphous blob she appears to be on Brexit, the longer Brussels weaves the narrative of a weak and indecisive UK.

And who can blame them? The divisions of the Tory party can only be solved by having a strong leader devoted to a set of convictions and principles.

Perhaps Mrs May is not the ideal person for the job, but for the sake of the country let’s hope she grows a backbone and puts up a fight.

ROSS WRIGHT Badger Court, Broxburn