The UK is far from a ‘safe haven’ for Scotland, despite what Mr Tomkins claims

Adam Tomkins claims the Scottish Government has done no better than Boris in managing the pandemic (Scotsman, 4 August). The facts dispute this.

England has ten times the population of Scotland so if performance was to be similar, the total number of Covid cases and deaths would also be ten times higher but they are not, by a long shot. Scotland has had 18,694 cases so if all things were equal, England would have had 186,940 but had 263,602, 41 per cent higher. Scotland has had 2,491 deaths so if all things were equal, England would have had 24,910 but has 41,598, 67 per cent higher.

Mr Tomkins repeats the myth that Scottish care home deaths are worse than in England. In fact, Covid deaths in Scottish care homes are ten per cent lower than in England and Wales. When Scotland diverged from the failed Four Nations approach at the end of March, Scottish care home deaths from Covid declined and are now lower per capita (456 per million) than in England (735 per million) and Wales (493 per million) Mr Tomkins correctly says the SNP’S presentation has been superior to that of the Tories but fails to credit the Scottish Government for its different policy choices.

Scots complied with lockdown because the Scottish Government led with clear, constant and consistent communication, showed compassion and followed the best scientific advice. And because the Scottish Health Service hasn’t been privatised to the extent of the English NHS, we have had a more coordinated and effective public health response.

The choice is not between libertarian and authoritarian, but between competence and incompetence. People want competent government so that they and their loved ones can feel safe. The Scottish Government has delivered, which is why they are more trusted not only by Scots over Westminster, but also by the English. The Tories are politicising the pandemic, not the Scottish Government.

Mr Tomkins claims the Union is a safe haven for Scotland.

In addition to denying the right of the Scottish people to self-determination, the Tories are demolishing devolution with the UK Internal Market white paper that reasserts Westminster supremacy over the UK and is only necessary because Scotland is being ripped out of the EU against its will.

Better presentation won’t save the Scottish Tories. A majority of Scots no longer sees the Union as a safe haven. If Mr Tomkins cared about Scotland, he would support the Scottish government’ s request for the power to borrow money to get us out of a Covid-induced economic collapse and the power to hold a referendum to become an independent European country.

LEAH GUNN BARRETT Merchiston Crescent, Edinburgh

In his article Adam Tomkins writes, “I am a liberal to my core – it’s why I am a Conservative”. In my experience any claim to be a liberal and a Conservative is a contradiction in terms.

DAVID HAMILL Preston Road, East Linton