Government must show better handling of economy not simply make promises

Watching the TV press conference at which Boris Johnson flailed his arms about throwing billions of pounds at the health service, education and building industry projects one wondered, who worked out how and where the extra nurses and doctors, teachers, and building trade workers required will be recruited and trained and how their placements are to be carried out?

We do want and need to see things happening, but unless the Prime Minister – or rather, Dominic Cummings – comes up with plans to put them into effect we are simply witnessing pie in the sky politics.

Some 11 million workers are now being funded by the government. Even when the economy does pickup so many jobs will have gone, especially in retailing, and they are not likely to return. The government must show a better grip in its handling of the economy and on those employment issues ahead – not simply churn out billion pound figure promises.

JIM CRAIGEN Downie Grove, Edinburgh

Boris Johnson is at it again, trying to delude the public by claiming “there will be no return to the austerity of ten years ago.” Who is he kidding? Has the statistic of the UK economy contracting by over a fifth in April flown right over his head?

Covid-19 will see everyone pay a hefty price, whether that is due to job loss, increased utility bills, the cost of local government services and higher taxation. Mr Johnson promises a raft of infrastructure schemes which will require increased borrowing, which in turn increases national debt which needs to be paid back by the UK taxpayer via higher taxes. Those who are looking at the harsh reality and thinking clearly are fully aware of the hardship to follow, it is only Mr Johnson who is deluding himself at the country’s expense. CATRIONA C CLARK

Hawthorn Drive Banknock, Falkirk

May I be the first to suggest that should the PM be successful in his desire to build a bridge between Scotland and Ireland, it be named The Boris

Bridge? Mainly because it’s going somewhere few people in either Scotland and Northern Ireland want to go and its effectiveness will regularly be hampered by excessive wind.

D MITCHELL Coates Place, Edinburgh

I see that Boris Johnson’s initiative for the UK to “triple build” its way out of the economic crisis precipitated by Covid-19 will start with a new bridge across the North Channel, linking Scotland with Northern Ireland. To me, this lacks vision and ambition.

Why not build a flyover across the whole of Ulster and head straight for Greenland where new markets and opportunities await to be exploited by a post-brexit Britain?

It could even incorporate a new HS3 route which would not only keep the construction industry gainfully employed way beyond the completion of HS2, but also cut at least 20 minutes off the journey time between Edinburgh and Nuuk.

ANDY DAVEY St Andrews Road Peebles, Scotland