14 years of SNP pledges have turned to dust

Another load of promises came from the bountiful First Minister. Sadly, I am too old for the bike! Never mind, future generations can look forward to life starting in the SNP baby box and who knows, we may even finish up in an SNP box at the end of life. The serious point is that I, for one, am insulted by the drip, drip of SNP pledges. Can we believe that there is honesty behind these promises? I doubt it.

It goes without saying that many of the pledges made over the 14 years of SNP government have turned to dust. Among this plethora, the pledges on education in terms of closing the muchdiscussed attainment gap and reducing primary class sizes are two that do indeed have direct consequences on children's lives. A visit to the Academies of inner London, where life chances have been transformed for children from very challenging backgrounds, would convince the most sceptical that early intervention in Language and Maths is vital. This is possible only where class sizes are small and group teaching is made possible by the addition of class assistants. Have the SNP been convinced to look and learn? Of course not – London is Boris land!

The Scottish budget is currently bloated by the Covid money held back in Holyrood from the UK payments during the crisis. That was another pledge, made by Nicola Sturgeon on the floor of the Scottish Parliament – all monies would be passed on in recovery and support schemes.

We have had 14 years of SNP government. Forget the pledges and look at the record instead. A poisoning of the relationship between Holyrood and Westminster is not incidental, but deliberate.

Boris Johnston's name is peppered over everything Nicola has to say about the relationship between the two. Our memory is surely long enough to confirm that 300 years of Union has achieved much for the whole of the UK and will not be wiped out by passing politicians.

ALISON FULLARTON Lumsdaine, Eyemouth