Devo-delusion

It is a characteristic of many of your columnists that it is not what they mention that matters, it’s what they choose to overlook. Brian Wilson fulfils that in spades (Perspective, 18 August: “SNP has power to aid women stung by pension changes but must choose to use them”).

So intent is he on accusing the SNP of seeking to perpetuate a culture of grievance, that he wallows in his blind prejudice against that party to the exclusion of reasoned argument. By definition, the powers he salivates over are cosmetic, aiming to provide the impression of further devolution, whereas it is not devolution, but delusion.

The theory is that Scotland pays taxes to cover matters reserved to Westminster, such as welfare. When there is interference with these, it usually means saving money, but Westminster retains the cash – no part of that accrues to Scotland. So it is absurd to assume that, for every single such change, the SNP, or whichever party is in power at Holyrood, should restore the policy without access to our existing tax element. Brian Wilson is careful to cover his back with references to necessary cuts in other services, and tax increases – no mention of economic growth.

It is not only women’s pensions that are in the frame – there is the bedroom tax, and the rape clause, etc. It is difficult to contemplate

that, throughout his political career, Brian Wilson stood steadfastly against devolution. So obsessed is he with the Union that he cannot bring himself to blame his prounionist Tory compatriots for these changes.

These changes apply in England too. Does he expect his Labour Party to replicate the solutions he recommends for the SNP? Why did Labour not solve all these issues during

its 13 years in power to 2010? DOUGLAS R MAYER Thomson Crescent

Currie, Midlothian

Brianwilsonsuggeststhatthe Scottish Government spend money to remedy the WASPI pension problems created by the Westminster government. As he rightly remarks, if money is spent on one thing it is not available for another. Scottish

tax goes to Westminster. Some comes back to Scotland.

This is not a gift from a benevolent UK Government, but a return to us of some of our own money. If we wish to have access to all of our own resources to use to deal with our own problems, and to help others worldwide to deal with theirs, then we need the sort of sovereign independence, in an interdependent world, enjoyed by our Finnish, Danish, Norwegian and other neighbours. They look after their pensioners better than we do and we should follow their example.

DAVID STEVENSON Blacket Place, Edinburgh