People, not politics

The SNP are very sure of themselves when telling us what to do and think or banning things or giving things away.

The latter is not as generous as it might seem, of course, as universal benefits often involve giving out precious public funds with more of an eye for popular appeal than with identifying where the need is greatest.

From telling us what we think about Brexit and how to bring up our children with the named person scheme through banning smacking and fracking and handing out baby boxes, these SNP “we-know-best” attitudes are handed down from the high moral ground that they so like to claim.

What a shame that the SNP seems so out of its depth with all the things that Scotland critically depends on, such as education for our children, protecting the health of Scotland’s NHS, and the reorganisation of our police and fire services.

With these it is not just missed targets and examples of failure that stand out but also the depressed state of morale of all those doing their best on the front line of these services.

When will Nicola Sturgeon and her government properly focus on what Scotland needs rather than simply what best suits the SNP’S underlying ambitions to break up the UK?

KEITH HOWELL West Linton, Peeblesshire

The Scottish Government team have saved 1,800 jobs at Burntisland Fabricators by their immediate and committed intervention.

Great credit must also be also be given to the workers and unions for their calm and dignified work-in, which bought time for the negotiations to succeed.

All in the Bifab yard agreed that the Scottish Government intervention was absolutely critical in the successful outcome and the yard workers were unanimous in their praise.

Unfortunately, Richard Leonard, about five minutes after becoming Labour leader in Scotland, struck the only sour note, claiming that “the workers had forced a deal from the government” when everyone involved had worked in harmony to the same goal.

Credit where it is due, Mr Leonard.

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