SNP have had 11 years to tackle social deprivation and lack of health resources

I find it concerning to read that research has shown “Glasgow has the ten most deprived areas in Britain and that the Carlton area has three of the city’s most deprived areas ”( The Scotsman, 10 July).

As the SNP has been in power for 11 years, one would have imagined that trying to eliminate such deprivation would have been a priority for Scottish Government ministers and for local SNP MSPS, which include Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister herself, but not so. Indeed, STV pictures have recently shown grim pictures of these areas with “Missing First Minister” on posters.

During her time in office Ms Sturgeon has used pub - lic funds for expensive community buy-outs of desolate, scarcely populated islands supposedly to avenge the Highland Clearances over 200 years ago. In addition, she has been all too ready to give Malawi repeated hand-outs, most recently £3.3 million to combat climate change (The Scotsman, 7 July).

It would seem that making Scotland and herself look good on the world stage is much more important to Ms Sturgeon than helping poor people in Glasgow. Indeed, by slashing grants to local authorities who provide frontline services including welfare and education, the SNP Government have imposed a new policy of unparalleled austerity in Scotland.

SALLY GORDON-WALKER

Caiystane Drive, Edinburgh

As Nicola Sturgeon pursues her quest for independence by being purposely unhelpful over Brexit, Scots can see the true realities of an unfocused government (“Stroke patients ‘left without vital treatment’ in hospital’, The Scotsman, 11 July.)

The lack of funding from the Scottish National Party to provide proper staff cover has exposed another example of the lack of sensible usage of resources.

The money the SNP wastes on vanity projects such as the baby boxes could so easily save lives instead.

It is typical of the current Holy rood Government that the publicity surrounding “freebies” that are supposed to show the SNP care are, in reality, paid for elsewhere, as The Scotsman has pointed out. Far too much time and effort, to say nothing about resources, is wasted by the SNP to frustrate Brexit and promote independence when the population is being ill-served where it needs it most.

(DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow

On reading your headline article “Stroke patients ‘left without vital treatment’ in hospital” I paid particular attention to the reaction of the Scottish Government, and there it was exactly as I anticipated :“A Scottish Government spokesperson said work was underway to develop a national planning framework to provide thrombectomy.”

This is what we have come to expect from this government. When challenged, everything is “under development”, there seldom being any attempt to engage with the issues by referring, for instance, to such relevant matter as may be available online.

JOHN MILNE Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston