Fine aspiration to abolish foodbanks

Sir, – I read with interest the letter from Adrian Grant (November 25) in which he seeks to “disabuse” me. May I reassure him that many people over the years, no doubt some better and some worse than Mr Grant, have sought to do the same. It is not sore and I fully expect that to continue.

I listed seven major areas which I felt would no longer be applicable in an independent Scotland and Mr Grant has only picked up on one of these – namely foodbanks – therefore I assume that, by omission, this is a tacit acknowledgment that he agrees with these other six areas.

The money saved from these six areas would go a very long way to abolishing the need for foodbanks in an independent Scotland.

It’s kind of cute to be described as “utterly naive and irresponsible”

– I cannot ever recall that description being applied to me and I shall wear that badge with some pride.

Mr Grant suggests that because there is globalised transnational capitalism, foodbanks are an inevitability which cannot be avoided. I certainly do not accept that premise, particularly in respect of an independent Scotland.

The Scotland I want to see will be an extension of the one which already provides additional help to those less fortunate. With full fiscal responsibility, unfettered by the Barnet Formula, I would expect this help to be even better than we can provide at present.

To glibly accept that foodbanks are here to

stay does not say much in terms of ambition and aspiration. I would suggest that national rather than international policy is the main driver of an economy. Of course, I do also accept that global issues play a part in influencing or contributing to national economic growth as evidenced by current external issues such as the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis.

The Scottish people have not voted for a Tory government for many years and I have no doubt that an independent nation will be better at looking after those less fortunate in our society.

I would respectfully suggest to Mr Grant that it is wrong to glibly accept that foodbanks are here to stay and to accept them as the norm in a democratic, forward-looking society.

The elephant in the room is of course Brexit, and there are very encouraging signs that Scotland’s application to re-enter the EU would be fast-tracked.

I consider it to be the right thing to have the ambition as well as the aspiration to do everything possible to see the need for foodbanks being abolished.

To do otherwise I would suggest is doing a disservice to our fellow man and woman.

Foodbank goods for pets.