Double standards

Finance secretary Derek Mackay is being accused of double standards over the Scottish National Party’s taxation of schools (“Minister advised top school how to get around ‘tax grab’,” 16 August).

His idea that local authorities should make up the shortfall due to his own inept use of taxation powers is unfair.

Meanwhile the SNP is crowing about the Scottish economy outstripping that of the UK. This was due to an increase in North Sea activity plus better exports.

These factors are not entirely due to anything the SNP has done. The North Sea increase is mainly due to the higher world oil price and the increase in exports, particularly whisky, is largely due to the weakness of Sterling. Brexit is therefore being used to boost the SNP’S image, but you will be unlikely to find anyone in the SNP willing to admit to this. Double standards indeed! GERALD EDWARDS Broom Road, Glasgow