Sir, – Few Scots can understand how Donald Trump was ever elected as President of the USA.
We see through his showmanship, laugh at his ranting tweets, mock his claims to be the best in the world at everything and shake our heads. How on earth could millions have voted for him?
They were, of course, carried forward on his war-cry, “I will make America great again!”.
The saving grace for the Americans is that, four years later, they can now come to their senses and vote him out.
Scottish independence is following a similar pattern with the SNP surfing a huge wave of sentiment.
There are no real facts to support this ambition.
We no longer have a great industrial base to rely on for growth and jobs.
We are not mineral rich and 80% of our current trade is done with south of the border, so a trade deal will need to be negotiated.
It will not be a good deal.
Scotland will have to create its own currency which will be immediately weaker than the pound or the euro, and we will all lose value when we have to exchange our savings from sterling.
The NHS will need to be reformed and funded by us as it becomes the SHS.
There are lots more negatives, but the spirit of Rob Roy will carry us forward.
The tragedy of the situation, however, is there will be no opportunity in four years time to vote for a reversal.
We can all be proud of being Scottish while remaining strong as part of the UK.
We don’t need to jump off a cliff to prove it.
Ken Greenaway.
Torr of Kedlock,
Cupar.
Feeding the family must be the priority
Sir, – Although the consequences of Covid have undoubtedly increased the number of hungry children, the problem is not new and in recent times is largely of our making.
Instead of cooking our own meals, we now increasingly rely on fast, convenience (often junk) food, satisfying every palate, which is often more expensive.
The result is obesity and a lack of know-how or confidence in cooking.
In addition, while feeding the family used to be the priority in the family budget, it is no longer.
While the immediate solution may be the feeding of the very poor it is not the long term solution.
Parents should not be excused their duty of feeding their children.
All should be educated in the management of money and the preparation of cheap and nutritious meals.
Bernard Senior.
18 Hillside Terrace,
Dundee.
Why no state take over of BiFab?
Sir, – Unions have accused the Scottish Government of not doing enough to secure the future of the BiFab workforce in Burntisland, Methil and Lewis.
Ever since the wind turbine tsunami hit Scotland the Scottish Government has failed to secure turbine work for Scottish workers.
It all went abroad.
Ten years ago the Scottish Government made promises that the wind turbine revolution would bring 28,000 jobs to Scotland. They failed miserably.
The Scottish Government’s excuse for not financially supporting BiFab was the EU State Aid diktat.
Now BiFab is facing collapse at a cost to taxpayers of £52.4 million.
The Scottish government carried out a state takeover of Ferguson Marine and Prestwick Airport, so why not BiFab?
Clark Cross.
Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Goodbye Brian, now for something new
Sir, – As a new era awaits at the BBC with the retirement of that well known Dundonian Brian Taylor, I ask: would it be possible to have a new era in politics and the way we do politics in Scotland?
So, while it is happy retirement for Brian Taylor, would be possible to also retire all the constant negative criticism of the First Minister and the Scottish Government, stop complaining as much, and get together unionists and nationalists alike, and get through this pandemic together?.
Peter Ovenstone.
Orchard Grove,
Peterhead.
