About time for UK Government to support north east

Sir, – It has been heavily trailed that smooth operator Rishi Sunak is to provide a direct transition fund to ‘bail out’ the oil and gas sector in his Budget today.

Considering the wealth this sector has delivered for 40-odd years to the UK Government, it is about time they put their hands in their deep pockets to support the north east.

However, I have a feeling it will all be wrapped up in Union Jacks, just like the UK Government are spinning around the vaccine.

As an independent country, Scotland would have had an enormous Sovereign Wealth

Fund just like Norway.

The Mccrone Report told us that, had we seen the report when written in the 1970s rather than secretly filed away as toxic to the union, we would have made a better fist of it.

It is strange the current spat in Holyrood has a committee so enraged and engaged when secret reports squirrelled away by Westminster governments rarely causes them to bat an eyelid.

So folks, be careful when Rishi Sunak comes bearing gifts in the Budget. There will be strings.

Alistair Ballantyne. Birkhill, Angus.