Budget pretensions

Derek Mackay freezes the higher rate tax threshold to pay for worthy causes in the devolved portfolio. So far, so virtuous. Yet there is another item that catches the eye.

The Scottish Government’s ‘external affairs’ budget is to rise to £17.3million in 2018-19 and to £24million in 2019-20. My question is, why?

The Scottish Government has no locus in foreign policy or international affairs. Scotland is part of the Uk, which handles foreign policy and international relations for the country as a whole, as a reserved matter.

The Scottish Budget is intended for matters pertaining to the devolved administration. I resent having my tax liability raised so the SNP can indulge its pretensions to a role it is not entitled to exercise.

JILL STEPHENSON, Edinburgh. ONe good thing emerged from the Budget of Derek Mackay, the star pupil of the Diane Abbott school of maths – I was asleep in ten minutes. I’m keeping the recording for any future time when I struggle to sleep.

The Finance Minister has willingly accepted all the extra millions given from Barnett formula consequentials yet proceeded to blame all Scotland’s problems on Westminster.

His boss, Nicola Sturgeon, was outrageous in her comments. The SNP has failed miserably at everything it has touched, like health, education, transport, fishing and justice.

It’s high time we had a no confidence vote in Holyrood and transfer all its powers back to Westminster.

ALISTAIR PORTER, Kirkcaldy, Fife.