THE condescending comments by the Chancellor Phillip Hammond that “Scotland gets its fair share, and precious little thanks we get for it” are appalling (Andrew Learmonth, SNP slam Budget remark, March 14).
READ MORE: SNP slam Hammond over saying SNP should be ‘grateful’ for Budget cash
Thanks to The National, a lot more Scots are aware of the lost generation of Scots who were robbed of the investment that our extensive oil and gas resources could have generated.
The McCrone Report clearly shows that successive Labour and Tory governments connived to keep the truth of the extent of Scotland’s natural resources from the Scottish people.
Instead they claimed such resources were worthless and were running out, lying to the electorate to keep our resources to prop up a failing UK economy.
Anyone who has read the McCrone Report will be aware of just how much Scotland has lost out on and how the two main British political parties worked to deny a generation of Scots the benefits of our natural resources.
Yet instead of an apology we’re treated to comments like that of the Chancellor – as if we’ve to be grateful for them hoovering up all our resources and then flicking a few crumbs in our direction!
Let’s not waste any more resources, time or energy waiting for the UK to treat Scotland as an equal partner – it’s time we demand our independence.
Councillor Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
I CANNOT fully express how deeply offended and angered I was by Philip Hammond’s assertion that Scotland should be grateful for the largesse shown by London.
He would do well to remember that Scotland has had its natural resources plundered for the greater good, and, with each Government leak, it seems that this has been a conscious, secretive and calculated decision. Norway’s wealth fund, of course, provides Scotland with a stark and depressing reminder of what could have been.
The Chancellor’s comments leave me wondering how he can make balanced, unbiased provision for Scotland when he clearly perceives us to be unworthy of the funding we get.
Iona Easton
Glasgow
A LARGE demonstration was held outside the Westminster Parliament on Wednesday and it was not Remain or Leave demonstrators, it was in fact Women Against State Pension Inequality (Waspi) women.
Waspi women are women born in the 1950s who are currently being denied their state pension and were afforded no notice of this delay to their pension.
This demonstration was to coincide with the Chancellor’s Spring Statement and those women had hoped against the odds to hear the Chancellor give them some recognition and recompense in light of their disproportionate suffering which has plunged many into poverty.
However, the Chancellor remained silent on this matter.
But all was not lost, because opposition parties brought the plight of those women to the Chancellor’s attention and followed this with more questions the following day during Questions to the Minister for Women and Equalities and to the Leader of the House.
As demonstrated at the House of Commons, the Waspi women are not for going away and have secured many debates in Parliament and in doing so have secured cross-party support for their cause.
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
IAN Stewart expressed his fear concerning a Scottish currency as being in tune with a lot of SNP members and independence supporters (Letters, March 14).
We will be asked at conference to support the Government’s current motion but we do not have to accept it. There will be amendments and even motions against it. Conference will decide.
Personally, I do not see why the Scottish pound, if that is what it will be known as, should not be available from day one of Scotland’s independence. Why do we have to use a currency that is not under Scottish control?
A Scottish currency could be aligned to sterling, or the euro, or and other favourable currency for want of favourable exchange rates if necessary.
Whatever the decision, preparations should be put in place by the Government in plenty of time for a Scottish pound to be available from day one. This was the case during the change from pounds, shillings and pence to decimalisation, if people can remember that far back.
Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife
I WAS listening to Hotel California by the Eagles last night. There was a particular line I heard which, on reflection, rang true. The line was “You can check out any time you like ... but you can never leave”.
By Jove, sounds like Brexit.
WJ Graham
East Kilbride
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel