Myths and reaity

Reading the letters pages, I often wonder whether Alexander Mckay and Andrew HN Gray (Letters, 14 October) confer or simply mimlc each other. Thus we have the myth of the two ferries which “rust in a Clyde shipyard which they nationalised”. Another take on this issue could read that following significant contract disputes over the building of two ferries, in order to complete the contract and save highly skilled jobs, the Scottish Government took the yard they were being built at into public ownership. In the meantime, to help maintain lifeline services, the government has purchased a ferry from Norway.

The airport that nobody uses could be presented as Prestwick Airport has moved into profit and continues to diversify its operations, including providing a location for the making of films.

Refusing to join the "successful UK Covid passport scheme", can be translated as, the UK abandoned its planned passport scheme before it became fully operational. The Scottish Government considered adopting the UK app, but were told it would take up to a year to align its processes with NHS Scotland data.

There are areas of genuine concern in Andrew HN Gray's letter, such as the problems at two major hospitals which he mentions. However, they are lost in a verbiage of exaggeration, distortion and statements which are just plain wrong. Mr Gray describes the government as a circus and comments on Lorna Slater's hobby as a trapeze artist. However, he fits well with the metaphor as a juggler of the truth. GILL TURNER

Edinburgh