Uneasypeace

Nice as it would be to take the talk of consensus at face value, Tom Peterkin rightly points out something feels a little false about the friendly overtures at Holyrood on the subject of more powers for Scotland (“A surprise breakout of uneasy peace at Holyrood – it can’t last”, 14 September).

The suspicion must be that some, perhaps all, of those involved imagine they will gain some eventual political advantage over their opponents in this process.

Elsewhere, you carry a report of a subject that cries out for genuine cross-party, indeed ideally non-political, intervention, lest Scotland’s health service drifts into an ever-greater crisis (“Alzheimer’s surge adds to burden on NHS of ageing population”, 14 September).

Of course, the long-standing trends that have led to dementia and Alzheimer’s now accounting for 10 per cent of deaths – double the percentage just a decade ago – are not the fault of any political party, and any in power would struggle with the challenge it presents.

There is a real danger of the tide of dementia overwhelming our health services, and a risk that while the SNP are so determined to portray themselves as being on top of the pressures on Scotland’s NHS that the honest and fundamental assessment we need of trends in demand and the consequences for funding will not happen.

Scotland needs its political leaders to have the courage to task non-politically driven experts to address the pressures the NHS is facing, with a particular focus on the special responses needed for the often complex needs of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia.

KEITH HOWELL West Linton, Peeblesshire Would it not benefit all of us if the SNP gave up the administration of our country and left it to real politicians?

It is abundantly clear by their at times close to criminal lack of attention to matters such as the police, the NHS, education and much else that nationalist hearts are simply not in it.

Decisions seem to be made only with regard to what they think will further their raison d’etre, the breakingup of the UK. Let us have no more grandstanding or egoboosting and grandiose trips abroad, just some old-fashioned care and attention to detailed matters at home.

They are not politicians, their party is not a political party – not really, they are more a religion or pressure movement. By all means carry on within the law as they wish and push for the break-up of the UK. But the push should be made as a movement outside politics and certainly not as a governing party. ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh