Why celebrate?

I am afraid I do not share in the celebrations of the Holyrood anniversary (Scotsman, 7 May).

Can those who laud this institution stop the self-congratulations for a moment and tell us of any achievement, one single item, achieved that could not have be end el ivered under the system we had before?

The untoldm ill ions–billions? – spent on this Labour monument designed to ‘’kill nationalism stone dead ’’ could have given our struggling social infrastructure over the last 20 years a glorious boost. Those in the Labour leadership at the time who saw this as a pig in a poke and

were overruled were only too right. Why, if more local representation was deemed necessary, could not our elected MPS have sat in Westminster and Holyrood when required? With minimum tinkering, disruption and cost it could have been achieved.

In the end ego and grievance won over common sense.

ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh