Almost Paradise

Robert Scott has not been pay-

attention as he denies austerity exists (Letters, 13 February) as Westminster has made real term cuts of several billions to the Scottish budget over the past eight years while the UK national debt has doubled to £1.8 trillion.

International Monetary Fund economists found that £1 trillion had been wiped off UK public sector net wealth since 2008 and that Britain’s underlying public finances are among the worst in the world, behind the Gambia, Uganda and Kenya. This austerity hurts every part of the UK yet our Scottish health, education, police, social services and local authorities remain in a far better shape than in England or Wales under Tory and Labour governments.

Also, when numerous universal benefits, including free student tuition, are taken into account, taxpayers in Scotland get a far better deal than elsewhere in the UK.

The investment and poverty gap between the south of England and the rest of the UK has widened while Brexit has unleashed hatred towards foreigners and division to an extent that was not in evidence during the independence referendum.

Also, compared to the constant abuse that Ian Blackford, Mhairi Black and other SNP MPS suffer at Westminster, Holyrood is a model of civilised debate.

FRASER GRANT Warrender Park Road

Edinburgh