Once again we get news that vital projects in Scotland have been put on hold. This time it involves the building of at least ten new NHS hospitals and treatment centres and the postponement will be for at least two years. People in the Highlands and Islands must feel totally excluded from this SNP/Green Scotland, what with the dualling of the A9 being put back to at least 2035 and the disgraceful state of the CalMac ferries. In the meantime the SNP leader at Westminster wants a new resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. I’m not sure if Stephen Flynn knows that foreign policy is still reserved for Westminster, or maybe he has an inside track at the negotiations in Paris between Egypt, Qatar, the Palestinians and the USA, which are hoping to achieve such a ceasefire. Or maybe he is only making mischief once again? Jim Houston, Edinburgh.
Humza Yousaf has just seen his Education Secretary do a car-crash interview on this weekend’s BBC Sunday Show and his new Health Secretary facing a steep uphill struggle from the get-go. Now Mr Yousaf is heading for another potential showdown with Kate Forbes. Mr Yousaf appointed Mairi McAllan as Economy Secretary in his forced reshuffle due to Michael Matheson’s “overuse” of his iPad. Some surprise was registered at the time that Mr Yousaf did not give Kate Forbes a job. Now it turns out that Ms McAllan is pregnant and Mr Yousaf knew this before the reshuffle. Ms McAllan’s pregnancy leave therefore necessitates a substitute in her position. Will Mr Yousaf select Kate Forbes, who would be the glaringly obvious candidate, and would Kate Forbes accept the job from Mr Yousaf? Mr Yousaf just seems to lurch from one crisis to another. Gerald Edwards, Glasgow.
Police Scotland, with the blessing of the SNP/Green coalition, have now agreed that ‘minor’ crimes will no longer be investigated. It means that some thefts, break-ins and vandalism will not be investigated. This is wonderful news for criminals who can now earn lots of money by committing many crimes in the safe knowledge they will never face any prosecution in the courts. This is the thin edge of the wedge leading to a breakdown of social order and public security. Dennis Forbes Grattan, Aberdeen.
Shona Robison, the Deputy First Minister, proposes to inflict on Scots another increase in minimum unit alcohol pricing from 50p to 65p, adding about £4 to a bottle of spirits. This of course aims to prevent death by alcohol abuse. The last increase did absolutely nothing to discourage heavy drinkers and this proposed rise will only increase thefts from shops and assaults on shop workers. We are becoming a “mummy” state in Scotland. As an ardent SNP voter, they have now lost my support along with, I suspect, thousands of other responsible drinkers. AC by email.