Sir, – The decision to devolve 111 of the repatriated EU powers straight to Holyrood suggests Theresa May has forgotten she was able to form a government in 2017 because she stood up to Nicola Sturgeon, told her she could not have a second referendum and won 13 Scottish seats.
There are millions of votes waiting for the politician who tells the SNP where to get off.
The EU Farm Payments shambles shows that Holyrood, not just the SNP, are no more able to handle European Union powers than devolved UK powers, or indeed areas like education, police and health, which have been administered here for hundreds of years and ruined in the past 20.
It seems that even the Conservatives have fallen for the siren voices who say that the best way to avoid the break-up of the UK is to break up the UK.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Put Brexit bus in reverse, please
Sir, – A bus emblazoned with ‘Brexit to cost £2,000 million a week’ will be in Edinburgh and Glasgow today, highlighting the madness of Brexit.
The bus has been organised by the Is it worth it? campaign, and aims to get people to think about the immense negative cost of Brexit, highlighting that it is still possible for the UK to step back from the Brexit brink and remain in the EU.
The £2,000 million figure is based on the UK Government’s own, leaked report that Brexit with a Free Trade Agreement will cost the UK five per cent of GDP after 15 years. For Scotland it estimates almost twice as big a hit at nine per cent.
Scotland, therefore, stands to lose significantly more than other parts of the United Kingdom and Brexit will cause misery to so many Scots.
Vote Leave’s bus falsely claimed we send the EU £350 million a week when the true cost is more like £200 million a week.
Now the Government’s own analysis shows the hit to our economy from leaving the EU will be 10 times bigger than the cost of staying in.
Some people may be willing to pay this price for what they see as the benefits of Brexit but more and more are asking: “is it worth it?”
As more and more people change their minds as the economic impacts of Brexit become clearer – and we haven’t even left the European Union – there is still time for the UK to step back from the cliff edge and halt this needless march to economic oblivion.
Alex Orr.
Flat Two,
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
Rethink needed on wood’s fate
Sir, – The Courier’s revelations on the future of RAF Condor included the threat that Laurel and Globe Diamond Jubilee Wood may be ripped up for a housing development.
The wood within the Royal Marine base was one of 60 throughout the UK planted to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012 – 50,000 native trees were planted across 95 acres at the site.
Those of us involved, from Woodland Trust Scotland staff through to the local school children and Marines who planted trees, expected there to be a beautiful wood on the site in perpetuity. We have had no notice of plans to destroy all our hard work.
I would ask for a rethink to save this wood. If the destruction goes ahead, many people are due an apology and an explanation, and the taxpayer is due a refund on the Forestry Commission grant which helped pay for the woodland.
Carol Evan.
Director, Woodland Trust Scotland,
Shore Road,
Perth.
Tax claims ‘nonsensical’
Sir, – There can be few in Scotland who don’t realise everyone earning over £26,000 living here will pay more income tax than anyone else in the UK.
Time will tell whether we believe the SNP administration will spend our money well.
Judging by, for example, their 10-year lacklustre management of our children’s education, the nationalists will now need to up their game significantly to retain credibility.
However, it seems fewer are aware that Nicola Sturgeon’s relentless claim that many Scots will pay less tax is effectively nonsensical. Income tax cuts for lower-paid workers amount to pence per week. This will be wiped out by council tax increases currently being announced for the 2018-19 financial year.
Martin Redfern.
Woodcroft Road,
Edinburgh.
‘Pot, kettle’ and a looming Brexit
Sir, – For Keith Howell (Thursday’s Letters) to complain of SNP, “political spin”, displays a monumental lack of self-awareness.
Being a member of an organised group (outed in an email last December) with the single agenda of flooding Scottish newspapers with SNP/BAD letters, the term, “pot, kettle” springs to mind.
Congratulating themselves on passing the 5,000 mark, one goal is described as, “giving journalists confidence to write pro/union, anti-SNP articles”. I wasn’t aware such confidence was lacking in a press almost wholly unionist in nature.
Mr Howell’s latest gripe concerns the Scottish Government’s moves towards a more equitable income tax system. Unsurprisingly, Mr Howell isn’t happy.
His personal opinion is that this will adversely affect Scottish businesses, and harm, “project Scotland”. I say personal, as Scottish Business News confirmed the growing health of the sector in Scotland, especially in relation to England, with Edinburgh recently named as best UK city for inward investment. Dundee’s star is also rising in regard to future investment.
No doubt the recent Scottish Government initiative of £500 million into financial support for private sector business investment has played its part.
What does seriously concern Scottish businesses, however, is the impact of Brexit. Theresa May’s cabinet meeting at Chequers, lacking any Scottish representation, highlights her belief that Scots will be voiceless during this process.
Perhaps Mr Howell, or one of his comrades-in-arms, will use one of their next series of 5,000 letters to address that particular issue.
Ken Clark.
335 King Street,
Broughty Ferry.
