Poll peculiarities

The hypocrisy of the SNP in responding to the results of opinion polls is staggering.

In the 2016 election Labour’s policy was to increase taxes in order to pay for public services. The SNP manifesto promised there would be no increase in taxes in the current parliament. Finance secretary Derek Mackay, however, reneged on this SNP promise and is now proposing tax increases. A recent poll (Scotsman January 18) shows that 54 per cent of Scots support increasing taxes to fund public services. But rather than meekly accepting that the SNP had got it wrong and have now seen the wisdom of Labour’s proposals Mr Mackay pats himself on the back and claims that “a majority of Scots support the SNP’S tax reforms”. Nor does he mention that his proposals will only be passed if he leans even further towards Labour’s position.

Another poll (same edition) shows that support for breaking away from the UK is down to 43 per cent and that opposition to indyref2 in the next five years is up to 54 per cent. Mr Mackay again reaches for the self-congratulatory button and chirps that “we have a 12 point lead after a decade in government”. No mention is made of the fact that this represents a 4 per cent drop since October and no response is made to the figures on a second referendum.

Nicola Sturgeon is equally adept at looking the other way in response to the polls as she continues to threaten a second referendum in the next few months. Do I not recall her asserting that her duty was to listen to the Scottish people and that “no politician can stand in the way of the will of the Scottish people”? As with the approach on taxes that principle has been sacrificed in the pursuit of the only goal which matters to her, and which transcends all.

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh