FIRST Minister’s Questions on Thursday heard Labour’s new leader Richard Leonard question the SNP government’s record on addressing child poverty in Scotland. This question from Mr Leonard did surprise me considering the voting record of Labour MPs at Westminster on the issue of austerity. In July 2015 80 per cent of Labour MPs sat on their hands, unable to vote against Conservative austerity cuts that are now having a detrimental effect on hard-working families and benefit claimants.

So it was rather hypocritical of Labour in Scotland to question the SNP record in office on this matter, considering the mitigating measurers the Scottish Government have put in place in establishing the Scottish Welfare Fund, which has to date given out £140 million in crisis grants to those suffering the consequences of his Labour colleagues’ voting record.

Mr Leonard went on to challenge the SNP to increase budgets to local authorities in next week’s Scottish Budget. The SNP have put in place legislation to allow local authorities to increase their own budgets through an increase in council tax, something no Labour-controlled authority have yet taken advantage of. Finally, can we look forward to seeing an alternative Scottish Budget – with firm proposals, fully funded – from Scottish Labour next week?
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

THE initial Brexit deal is very much “I can’t believe it’s not Brexit!” Brexit. The UK will stay in the customs union, the single market and be subject to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice.

Theresa May has put a spin on the deal, saying the UK will leave the EU in March 2019 as planned. However, all May has done is bought herself time. At the end of the process the UK will have a worse deal than just now. The hard Brexit forces of her party will not forgive May for her capitulation.

The transition period as it is proposed in the deal will simply kick the issue of Brexit into the long grass for future governments.
Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee

THE UK needs a new name after the latest Brexit farce. Anyone paying attention will have concluded that the current bad political pantomime is the result of David Cameron’s inability to control the Tory right wing, coupled with Nigel Farage’s adeptness at whipping up xenophobia, topped off with ineffective (non-existent) opposition. Early December has brought new levels of crazy. Should the UK now be renamed the DUPK?
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

WHILE sending my first letter to The National, predictive text came up with three very pertinent gems: struggle, bourgeoisie and movement. I was fair annoyed by Lesley Riddoch’s take on Finnish independence, which I submit would be enhanced by considerations of the significance of these terms (100 years after independence, Finland thrives, The National, December 7).

Ireland’s civil war can be understood as the successful installation of a native bourgeoisie wi’ the help – guns – of a former enemy, British imperialism. The struggle of the broad-based independence movement in Ireland, as represented by the overwhelming vote for complete independence through Sinn Fein’s electoral victory, was repressed by Britain with tragic historical consequences.

As James Connolly predicted about the division of Ireland, “a carnival of reaction” ensued, bringing us bang up to date.

For Lesley to body-swerve this central issue, of the class-based drivers of national struggle, is not a surprise. Again as our James Connolly pointed out, the avoidance of discussion of class is aye “a victory for the possessing classes”. What does inflame me further is the casual way that Finnish independence is upheld as a progressive national achievement for Finns while they allowed the fascist hordes to sweep down on the Soviet people, who lost 20 million folk smashing Hitler’s army.

You are an informed citizen Lesley, you do know about the brutal Siege of Leningrad for which Shostakovich composed his heroic symphony as women and men resisted the invader. So perversely there is merit in one nation allowing another nation to invade the national territory of another nation. Some respect please Lesley, some recognition of what we all owe the Soviet people and the Red Army.

National struggle for equality between all nations indisputably remains a vital progressive force in our world, but the working class – the majority – will not allow its movement to fall in behind the bourgeoisie as we see developing in Scotland today.

As Connolly counselled afore stepping out to lead the 1916 Rising: “Hold on to your rifles, lads and lasses, we are out for economic as well as political liberty.” As he well recognised, only the working class is the real guarantor of national rights everywhere.
Michael MacGregor
Address supplied

THE blank cover was in itself inspired, a classic case of silence speaking volumes, but the response from readers is also classic, each one in its own way hitting the target dead on the bullseye. It’s encouraging to see that The National’s readership is not only witty but perspicacious in the highest degree. Makes me even more comfortable with the company I’m keeping in your pages.
Colin Stuart
Saline, Fife