Sheer folly
The record of the current SNP administration at Holyrood can be described as simply abysmal. Sturgeon et al may try hard to emphasise their wish for Scotland to join the EU, but it is not as simple as that. It was the UK which was the member of the EU, not its constituent parts in their own right.
As it stands, Scotland would most likely fail the EU ‘entrance test’ – its economy, quite simply, is not strong enough.
Scotland’s deficit remains at £12.6 billion, but the Scottish economy has actually shrunk by 3 per cent to £175bn.
Also, I am confident that it will not be the Swinneys, Salmonds or Sturgeons who will succeed in breaking up the UK, and certainly not the Blackfords.
Perhaps, as time goes by, new contacts and alliances will be formed globally, but meantime Scotland will fare best by remaining an integral part of the UK. New trade deals will be struck globally and the UK as a whole will prosper.
In real economic terms, what has the SNP got to offer? A declining economy and higher unemployment levels, methinks. Already we have seen a decline in most of our public services – whether it be health, education, environment, housing, welfare, local government and the police service. So how on earth can they be trusted to run a country?
I am certain that what the majority of people in Scotland actually want is a strong presence at Holyrood, whatever the political party, which can administer effectively the public services devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Westminster should continue to exercise constitutional powers, and deal directly with the economy, Bank of England, international relations and defence.
Any moves to break up the UK would indeed be folly and should not be countenanced in any way.
ROBERT I G SCOTT Northfield, Ceres, Fife haven’t been to Murrayfield for a few years but watching Saturday’s game on TV, I didn’t hear any anti-english chants or songs (Keith Wilson, Letters,
10 February). The booing at an English penalty, which has been common for years, was exacerbated by the extraordinary length of time