THERE are now more than 40,000 school classes in Scotland with more than 31 pupils, an increase of over 9000 classes in the past ten years despite the SNP promise to keep class sizes down. This is yet another indicator the SNP have lost control of things in Scotland in education, health and the economy yet they continue to produce paper after paper on independence which is fast becoming a romantic dream. Dennis Forbes Grattan, Aberdeen.
In Friday’s Courier, we were exposed to a two-page advertisement subscribed to by Dan Pena – the “trillion dollar man” – offering his services as the next CEO of the Scottish National Party for £1 compensation per year. It is not eccentricity of this sort that Scotland needs right now, it is strong government – and if that entails a return to overall control from Westminster then so be it. The SNP/Green alliance has imploded, and there can be no recovery under the latest administration, with Humza Yousaf at the helm. His latest policy paper is even more unclear than the SNP’s previous one, especially in the areas relating to the Crown, currency, a hard border, defence and demographic challenges. What is needed right now is sound government at Holyrood and that can only be achieved by instigating an election to determine if the electorate in Scotland really want the status quo to continue. Immediate action in this matter is absolutely essential. Robert IG Scott, Ceres.
AS a local MP, Steven Flynn did grudgingly manage to say something positive on today’s Good Morning Scotland programme (July 31) re jobs and the carbon capture announcement. However, he could not help himself and did manage the two usual SNP gripes to indicate the SNP could have done better or differently … “dragged out of the EU” and “devolved powers”. Like many SNP Members of Parliament he forgets key facts. First, if Yes had won the independence referendum Scotland would have been out of the EU earlier than we were and we would have no hope of getting back in as Scotland’s debt is too high and we do not have a central bank. Secondly, we have lots of devolved powers, for example over the NHS, road building and ferries, and the SNP’s handling of those issues would not give the population any confidence in its ability to deliver a carbon capture scheme. Elizabeth Hands, Armadale.
The publication of the costs surrounding the axing of the SNP/Greens’ Deposit Return Scheme have revealed a truly shambolic picture, with staggering debts in the wake of the demise of the ill-fated company tasked with delivering the bottle and can recycling scheme, Circularity Scotland. Apart from the human cost in the loss of 66 jobs, it seems that debts of £86 million have resulted, with the main player in the project, Biffa, losing £65m. Additionally, there is the £9m loan from the publicly funded Scottish National Investment Bank. It was a complete burach, with minister Lorna Slater blaming Westminster and everyone but herself for the fiasco. Sadly, it may mean that industry will be loath to take part in future government-sponsored schemes if they are likely to be left financially exposed. Bob MacDougall, Kippen, Stirlingshire
Circularity Scotland collapsed with debts of more than £86m – Circul...