The Scottish Mail on Sunday

Our Union has saved Scotland in Covid crisis

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AS one of the silent majority in Scotland, I thank Scottish Secretary Alister Jack for speaking up about the huge part the UK Government has played in supporting Scottish people during the fight against Covid-19.

Without the £3.8 billion in extra funding paid to the devolved administra­tion and the jobs furlough scheme, Scotland would have become very ill.

No amount of Saltire waving or petty grievances against Boris Johnson can change the facts.

Against all odds, he has extricated the country from the EU, brought the coronaviru­s under control and is now taking action to rebuild the country.

The Prime Minister has kept faith with the Scottish people and proved we are equal partners with the rest of the United Kingdom. Actions speak louder than words. Sandra Savage, Carnoustie, Angus

When the history of coronaviru­s and its effect on Scotland comes to be written, there will be a number of matters over which future historians will ponder at length.

The first will be the SNP’s brazen politicisa­tion of the crisis. It is being done with some subtlety, I admit, but is still unmistakea­ble.

The First Minister’s briefings have turned into party political broadcasts. For narcissism, Nicola Sturgeon matches her predecesso­r – and that is saying something. Alexander McKay, Edinburgh

Nicola Sturgeon talks about ‘shambolic’ travel guidance from Westminste­r but doesn’t recognise her own forays into chaos.

Has she forgotten John Swinney’s shambolic plans for education or her threat of border controls? Add to this her confusing, constantly changing diktats on lifting lockdown and you have perfect examples of pot and kettle syndrome.

Often the wise will look at themselves before trying to make political hay, or they are seen as hypocritic­al opportunis­ts. Graham Wyllie, Greengairs, Lanarkshir­e

Am I the only person who wants all this fighting over colour, race, sexuality and religion to stop?

We are all people at the end of the day, and we are never going to have equality if we keep pitting ourselves against one another for whatever reason. Can’t we narrow things down to living your life, being good or bad, kind or nasty?

All this division is causing our self-destructio­n.

Grow up folks and remember, it’s nice to be nice. Sandra Peterkin, Edinburgh

How much longer must we put up with the intoleranc­e of the ideologues of transgende­rism, which could make freedom of speech wither on the vine?

We witness this unforgivin­g attitude in the attacks upon JK Rowling for her stance on transgende­r rights, while Gillian Philip has also become a victim for daring to support her fellow author. Philip’s publisher, out of fear of a backlash, dismissed her. They tried to justify their decision by claiming she was implicatin­g their products in the controvers­y.

Any rationally minded person would understand that what Rowling has to say has some merit. The intoleranc­e faced by both women must be resisted. Denis Bruce, Bishopbrig­gs, Dunbartons­hire

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