Vanity projects

It will soon be time for finance

secretary Derek Mackay to present his budget. His speech will surely contain soundbites to persuade fellow SNP MSPS, to break into their usual clapping – Westminster, Tory austerity and, of course, a reduction in the block grant.

Mr Mackay and councils want more money. I, and many of my generation will remember our mothers looking after the housekeeping money. It was spent wisely so that all bills were paid. I look on the budget in the same terms. We pay for the important services and leave any treats until there is money left. We also keep records to account for money spent which should be carefully scrutinised. If something needs money but changes are badly managed, throwing more money at it is pointless. If there is austerity there should be none of the vanity projects of the SNP.

It might be simplistic to compare a budget to family finances but the principle is the same. Look after the monthe ey you have got, do not spend on unnecessary items, keep records and hold all recipients of your largesse to account by telling everyone where the money has gone.

If the SNP look on spending money in that way there would be no more Gaelic signage everywhere, baby boxes, free sanitary products, free school meals for those who can pay and less money sent abroad in aid when this is the remit of Westminster on our behalf. It’s time for the country to wake up to the money being wasted. Austerity does not seem to have hit the SNP freebies.

DORIS MH DUFF Belmont Gardens, Edinburgh