Home atrocities

I am very impressed by the SNP’S latest independence brochure entitled “A good global citizen”. Not only will an independent Scotland be a land of milk and honey for us Scots, it will also protect people around the world!

The SNP would set up an “atrocity unit” to monitor the conditions of citizens in conflict around the world to see if intervention on their behalf is necessary. The promising aspect of this new initiative is that it could be piloted here at home in advance of independence. Given that the NHS, for example, is akin to a war zone the atrocity unit could determine how we might assist our citizens languishing for hours or even days in Accident & Emergency units or those on years-long waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery – not to mention the staff toiling heroically in what must seem to them combat conditions. Or perhaps the “Scottish Defence Unit” could look at how it might come to the aid of teachers on the frontline in our classrooms. There is ample scope in the Scotland of today to trial this venture.

No doubt it is very noble of SNP ministers to devote their time to global altruistic causes on the supposition that Scotland might one day become independent. In the here and now, however, some of our own citizens might ponder that charity begins at home. COLIN HAMILTON

Edinburgh