Farm cash farce

The SNP Government is again in chaos over CAP payments to our farmers.

EU rules required that 95 per cent of payments were made by last Friday – but merely 90.4 per cent of payments were handed over, potentially resulting in a multi-million pound EU fine for Scotland.

In contrast, the UK govern- ment achieved 99.2 per cent, so no fine in prospect.

Had the nationalists had their way in 2014, we would now be an independent nation with, most likely, the SNP governing us.

Not only do the nationalists have difficulty in simply transferring money to farmers two years in succession, last year the SNP was unable to assume newly-devolved welfare powers from Westminster for which it had so vociferously lobbied.

The prospect of an independent Scotland with the SNP in charge of establishing a central bank, creating a new currency, tackling Scotland’s massive 9.5 per cent deficit and managing the economy while being responsible for the entire panoply of law and government seems frankly risible.

Nicola Sturgeon – yet again –- blames IT problems for her government’s failings. Computer says No, Nicola? Fortunately most Scots also say No.

MARTIN REDFERN

Merchiston Gardens, Edinburgh

If England has a system that managed to pay out 99.2 cent of CAP payments to its farmers, was there a need for Scotland to waste £170 million on an IT system that has basically failed? Could we not just have used theirs?

KEN CURRIE

Liberton Drive, Edinburgh