Letters

letters

Roz Foyer says Labour must deliver for workers

Scottish Labour

Government deserves criticism but so too do Anas Sarwar and Jackie Baillie

The dangerous Elon Musk got into a spat with Humza Yousaf

The dangerous Elon Musk got into a spat with Humza Yousaf

Social media cesspit makes me happy I don't own a smartphone

We did not know in 2014 that the cost of energy, food and mortgages would spiral

We did not know in 2014 that the cost of energy, food and mortgages would spiral

Scottish independence

1

Would Yes have won if Scots had known what was in store for the UK?

The Health Secretary changed his story about queuing for Oasis tickets

The Health Secretary changed his story about queuing for Oasis tickets

Michael Matheson

6

Did Neil Gray learn nothing from the Michael Matheson saga?

Shona Robison will transfer £460m from ScotWind offshore leases

Shona Robison will transfer £460m from ScotWind offshore leases

1

Time to use hard-won Holyrood powers to introduce a land value tax

Research by Sir John Curtice found those who support independence are more inclusive in nature

Research by Sir John Curtice found those who support independence are more inclusive in nature

Research challenges negative portrayals of Scottish nationalists

Craig Hoy predictably lambasted the Scottish Government for its financial statement

Craig Hoy predictably lambasted the Scottish Government for its financial statement

Scottish block grant may be larger this year but inflation has soared

Nicola Sturgeon was a great leader but she did not get us any closer to a second independence referendum

Nicola Sturgeon was a great leader but she did not get us any closer to a second independence referendum

8

The SNP should stop slavishly chasing the latest hashtag cause

Affluent workers should stand in solidarity with all working people. Photograph: Gordon Terris

Affluent workers should stand in solidarity with all working people. Photograph: Gordon Terris

Scottish independence

3

Reject the divisive myth that higher pay makes a person 'middle class'

The final report into the Grenfell Tower fire will be published soon

The final report into the Grenfell Tower fire will be published soon

Grenfell Tower disaster

Ghost of Thatcher still haunts this failing post-imperial Britain

Stephen Flynn backed the plan to campaign for the most Scottish seats, rather than a majority of votes, at the July General Election

Stephen Flynn backed the plan to campaign for the most Scottish seats, rather than a majority of votes, at the July General Election

Scottish independence

4

There’s no sign the SNP have identified their strategy’s fatal flaw

Justice Secretary Angela Constance fielded questions from Graeme McCormick at the SNP conference

Justice Secretary Angela Constance fielded questions from Graeme McCormick at the SNP conference

Angela Constance

1

Ministers should Think Independence First when making every policy

Do we want a party that casts out politicians over minor differences of opinion?

Do we want a party that casts out politicians over minor differences of opinion?

Scottish independence

2

It would be sensible for SNP politicians to take forgiveness seriously

Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to the Siemens Energy plant

Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a visit to the Siemens Energy plant

The Empire is over, time to let Scotland assume responsibility for itself

Kate Forbes and Justice Secretary Angela Constance

Kate Forbes and Justice Secretary Angela Constance

2

Stiff broom needed for SNP’s dead wood and careerists

Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel which is housing asylum seekers in Rotherham

Riot police officers push back anti-migration protesters outside the Holiday Inn Express Hotel which is housing asylum seekers in Rotherham

Scottish Government

1

England's own independence may stop it from falling to far-right

The sun sets behind the Houses of Parliament in London

The sun sets behind the Houses of Parliament in London

We should be shouting benefits of Yes vote and rebranding GERS figures

The Health Secretary was clear where responsibility lay for failings in the Welsh NHS

The Health Secretary was clear where responsibility lay for failings in the Welsh NHS

What happened to Wes Streeting’s 'all roads lead to Westminster' talk?

Deputy First minister Kate Forbes will speak at the next meeting of Yes Highlands & Islands. Photograph: Gordon Terris

Deputy First minister Kate Forbes will speak at the next meeting of Yes Highlands & Islands. Photograph: Gordon Terris

Highlands & Islands

2

Vague promises on independence from the SNP will not suffice

He and Rachel Reeves are doing their best Cameron/Osborne tribute act

He and Rachel Reeves are doing their best Cameron/Osborne tribute act

1

Starmer will maintain the flow of money from the poor to the rich

With John Swinney now in charge, is there a fresh opportunity for getting round the table?

With John Swinney now in charge, is there a fresh opportunity for getting round the table?

20

Could all the pro-independence parties now finally get together?

What do opponents of safe consumption rooms want Scotland to do instead?

What do opponents of safe consumption rooms want Scotland to do instead?

It’s easier to criticise approach to drug deaths than offer solutions

The ambition was restricted to achieving a majority of seats in the General Election

The ambition was restricted to achieving a majority of seats in the General Election

General Election 2024

SNP’s October 2023 policy decision has much to answer for

The future of our children and grandchildren is at stake. Photograph: Colin Mearns

The future of our children and grandchildren is at stake. Photograph: Colin Mearns

Scottish independence

Now more than ever, Yessers must come together under one banner

Anas Sarwar is attempting to blame cuts on the SNP while Keir Starmer slashes the Holyrood budget

Anas Sarwar is attempting to blame cuts on the SNP while Keir Starmer slashes the Holyrood budget

Many Labour voters in Scotland will soon experience buyer’s remorse

Dissenting voices should be heard and more grassroots policy developed

Dissenting voices should be heard and more grassroots policy developed

SNP have failed to encourage active debate to shape party policy

Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband should explain to pensioners that the UK does not control its own power

Energy Security Secretary Ed Miliband should explain to pensioners that the UK does not control its own power

Energy Price Cap

2

Energy price cap increase is yet another hammer blow to pensioners

Market economics regards human beings as commodities

Market economics regards human beings as commodities

Labour are committed to a failed and discredited economic model

Keir Starmer promised to continue Jeremy Corbyn’s legacy, but later expelled him from the party

Keir Starmer promised to continue Jeremy Corbyn’s legacy, but later expelled him from the party

1

Keir Starmer’s austerity volte-face is biggest Labour lie since Blair

Gerry Hassan was short on praise when reflecting on 17 years of SNP government

Gerry Hassan was short on praise when reflecting on 17 years of SNP government

1

Governing Scotland with limited levers of power is no easy task

There is not a level playing field across the UK

There is not a level playing field across the UK

2

It’s easy for those in warm London to decide energy prices for Scots

The Labour leader's move was predictable

The Labour leader's move was predictable

Keir Starmer’s warning of hard times ahead comes as no surprise

The party has drifted further and further from its roots

The party has drifted further and further from its roots

2

My heart was with Labour but they have changed beyond all recognition

John Swinney has been asking for calm

John Swinney has been asking for calm

8

Drastic measures are required for renewal of the SNP as a party

London and the south-east are the only two regions in the UK to run a revenue surplus,
according to the ONS

London and the south-east are the only two regions in the UK to run a revenue surplus,
according to the ONS

1

GERS does not factor in the opportunity costs of being in the Union

Murdo Fraser has suggested his rivals step aside so he can be the new leader of the Scottish Tories

Murdo Fraser has suggested his rivals step aside so he can be the new leader of the Scottish Tories

Conservative Party

6

No wonder Murdo Fraser is keen to have a coronation

Methadone was implicated in 514 deaths last year

Methadone was implicated in 514 deaths last year

What Scottish drug users need is access to the right treatment

The Galloway National Park Association succeeded in its bid

The Galloway National Park Association succeeded in its bid

Scotland's next national park

National Park status risks stifling the development Galloway needs

Palestinians mourn for relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital in Deir al-Balah

Palestinians mourn for relatives killed in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, at a hospital in Deir al-Balah

5

Media lies may signal end of SNP if they don’t change

Seas off the coast of Florida are hitting record-breaking “hot tub” temperatures

Seas off the coast of Florida are hitting record-breaking “hot tub” temperatures

Climate Emergency

Oceans will soon control our future

The Holyrood building in Edinburgh

The Holyrood building in Edinburgh

Holyrood’s powers to reduce drug death toll are strictly limited

Maggie Chapman is pressing Shirley-Anne Somerville on bringing in a ban

Maggie Chapman is pressing Shirley-Anne Somerville on bringing in a ban

LGBT+ conversion therapy ban

Silent majority don’t view therapy for gender dysphoria as dangerous

Anas Sarwar was complicit in the conspiracy of silence around the ‘black hole’ in the UK’s finances

Anas Sarwar was complicit in the conspiracy of silence around the ‘black hole’ in the UK’s finances

1

Media don't seem interested in grilling political Houdini Anas Sarwar

Might this policy contribute to voters deserting the SNP?

Might this policy contribute to voters deserting the SNP?

2

How will law-abiding voters feel about safe consumption rooms?

Fiona Hyslop passively confirmed Scotland’s governance from Westminster for the foreseeable future

Fiona Hyslop passively confirmed Scotland’s governance from Westminster for the foreseeable future

Scottish independence

2

There is too much complacency within the SNP hierarchy

Highland councillors have to travel far and wide for work

Highland councillors have to travel far and wide for work

Local government

Councillors shouldn’t get part-time pay for doing full-time jobs

The singer is financially astute as well as hugely popular

The singer is financially astute as well as hugely popular

1

Be cautious about putting pop stars like Taylor Swift on a pedestal

More expensive fares will return following the end of a pilot scheme. Photograph: Colin Mearns

More expensive fares will return following the end of a pilot scheme. Photograph: Colin Mearns

2

Carping about the return of peak rail fares is not constructive

The Scottish Parliament can be used to confirm the sovereign power of the people. Photograph: Colin Mearns

The Scottish Parliament can be used to confirm the sovereign power of the people. Photograph: Colin Mearns

7

Our political leaders need to stop acting like colonial administrators

Is it time for Stephen Flynn to take charge?

Is it time for Stephen Flynn to take charge?

9

Should John Swinney now offer to stand aside as leader of the SNP?

Mhairi Black has said politics is not for her, but might she changed her mind?

Mhairi Black has said politics is not for her, but might she changed her mind?

6

What do we have to lose if an early Holyrood election is called?

John Swinney has said there will be no further such meetings with Israel ‘until real progress is made towards peace’

John Swinney has said there will be no further such meetings with Israel ‘until real progress is made towards peace’

Angus Robertson

1

Statements about Angus Robertson’s meeting are too little, too late

Saying 'I don’t fancy an ice-cream cone' is no barrier to buying one later

Saying 'I don’t fancy an ice-cream cone' is no barrier to buying one later

Scottish independence

1

It is supporters of independence, not opponents, who talk of barriers

Citizens Advice Bureaux can provide free and confidential advice on benefits entitlement

Citizens Advice Bureaux can provide free and confidential advice on benefits entitlement

Citizens Advice Scotland

2

Don’t miss out on a winter fuel payment if you are entitled to it

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