Glen Rosa shamed by boats old and new

ACalmac ferry built “on time and budget”? What kind of miracle is this? Ordered just two years ago from a shipyard in Turkey, the MV Isle of Islay is to be launched on 16 March, four days after the Clyde-built Glen Rosa, ordered in 2015 and still being worked on at the Scottish Government-owned Ferguson Marine shipyard.

However, despite Glen Rosa “winning” the race to launch – and presumably, unlike its equally costly sister ship, the Glen Sannox, its windows will be real, rather than painted on – it will not be ready to actually carry passengers until at least May next year, about five months after the Turkish vessel enters service.

Meanwhile, in a reminder that, once upon a time, we could build ships in Scotland, the paddle steamer Waverley, completed in 1946, is set to celebrate the 50th anniversary of being saved for posterity with its most extensive tour of the UK in decades. No doubt it will still be going in 50 years' time, long after Sannox and Rosa have been sent off to the breakers yard.

The First Minister follows Westminster In banning a dangerous breed of dogs after the entirely predictable flow of XL bully dogs from England to Scotland. Legislation that could have been in place in parallel with England, as Michael Gove suggested last year. Then, the First Minister follows Westminster in addressing the appalling treatment of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses having, like Westminster, done little for years.

As we rely on businesses to create jobs, can the First Minister now follow Westminster and reduce the tax burden on businesses, or will his “dogged” determination prevent him?

Brian Barbour

Murdo Fraser refers in his Perspective article of 10 January to MSPS backing the general principle of Liam Mcarthur’s assisted dying bill without having scrutinised the detail. Mr Fraser claims this shows the Scottish Parliament is not properly equipped to legislate on a matter as important as choices in end-of-life care, and is acting instead like a “student debating society”.

Undoubtedly, Mr Fraser knows better than most what the process for bringing private members’ bills involves, having gone through it more than once himself. Just a quick scan of parliamentary records shows us that he has lent his support to seven private members’ proposals in Holyrood over the last two years alone without seeing a draft bill. He

After years of vitriolic speeches from Nicola Sturgeon against Scotland’s neighbour and biggest export market, England, I was hoping for a change of tune from the new First Minister, Humza Yousaf.

Unfortunately this has not happened and Mr Yousaf obviously believes if he denigrates England in every utterance it will garner him greater support in Scotland. If one believes in the polls, his support is in a downward spiral, so should he not change his language? He might be surprised if he was more realistic in his approach, and less aggressive.

After all, even if Scotland cedes the Union, England is still its next door neighbour and the two countries have to find a way of living alongside each other? Spitting at one’s neighbour is not the way to build a harmonious relationship.

Jim Bell

I agree entirely with John Fraser (Letters, 11 January) about the appalling legislation the SNP and Green administration are proposing regarding children and gender self-identification (yet again).

Martin O’gorman (Letters, 12 January) references the Laffer Curve theory to support his criticism of the Scottish Government’s decision to make a small increase to the top rate of income tax.

The theory suggests that overall tax revenues could fall if higher taxes disincentivise work by high-earners. A little research shows, “on average, economists believe that the Laffer Curve begins to take effect when the tax rate reaches 70 per cent”.

In Scotland, the new rate on earnings above £75,000 will be 45 per cent. The theory therefore offers little support to the taxation scaremongers claiming, as does Mr O’gorman, that high-earners “will relocate elsewhere, taking their wealth and skills with them.”

Robert Farquharson

I was bemused to read the quotes (your report, 12 January) from SNP councillor Kate Campbell criticising Edinburgh Leisure, which is having to make tough decisions due to a financial shortfall.

Would Cllr Campbell not be better directing her ire towards her party leaders in the Scottish Government who have frozen funding for