Austerity questions

Sir, In these times of Tory-inspired austerity, it’s okay people have opposing views on local authority budgets (Arran Banner, February 10).

Jamie Greene, Tory list MSP, might have been better advised to stay out of the debate, though. He says: ‘After 11 years of failing to grow the economy, it’s hard-working families in North Ayrshire who are footing the bill for Nicola Sturgeon’s mistakes.’

‘Hard working families’ may be struggling to work out exactly what he means. The Scottish economy has grown by nearly eight per cent since 2011. And its not at all clear what ‘Nicola Sturgeon’s mistakes’ are or were. So much for sound bites!

But I rather suspect the questions ‘hard working families’ will actually be asking are these.

Might the Scottish economy be suffering from Tory austerity and from Brexit? Wasn’t it Jamie Greene’s party which opposed the Scottish parliament gaining additional economic powers 'to grow the economy'? And, if he earns £62,149 as an MSP, why are we also 'footing the bill' for £29,765 (the second biggest expenses among Tory MSPs)? His leader, Ruth Davidson, managed on a mere £10,518.

Yours,

Malcolm Kerr, Brodick.