WHAT has become very apparent over the last year is the political gulf between the Westminster government and the devolved governments. A further breach that is becoming discernible is between London and the south-east and the local authorities and regions of the north.

What has now become apparent to Lancashire, Yorkshire and their city regions is that London and the south hoover up much of the wealth of the UK and are not very empathetic partners in times of crisis. It is encouraging to see Andy Burnham squaring up to the Tory elite in defence of the low-paid!

READ MORE: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham calls for Commons vote amid virus row

It is unfortunate for Prime Minister Boris Johnson that his much-longed-for job fell into his lap in a time of unprecedented crisis.

His friends and colleagues from the public school set have been ill-prepared to deal with a national health crisis. Their inclination towards profit has stretched way beyond their levels of knowledge or competence and their poverty of imagination has been exposed to the scrutiny of the world.

Dido Harding’s shocking failures on Test & Trace are only matched in poor judgement by her desire to run the Cheltenham Races when most public events were being closed down.

Unfortunately, at this time of deepest danger for Westminster politics, the Labour party has been found wanting and very exposed. Their tendency to be an echo chamber for the Conservative party has left them with little originality except among a few northern and Midland MPs who have little traction with the leadership.

SNP adviser Andrew Wilson’s cosy predictions of an independence scenario six years down the line seem to me to be very risky indeed in the face of growing Tory authoritarianism. His proposals of a Scottish currency when “we can afford it” leave us open to all sorts of jiggery pokery from Westminster.

I think we need to sharpen up our thinking and prepare to seize the moment. An independent Scotland could be a kind and helpful neighbour to “our friends in the north”.

Maggie Chetty
Glasgow

I BELIEVE that, with a bit of imagination, the present crisis offers an opportunity to revitalise our high streets.

There is much talk at the moment that many of those who have been forced for the last few months to work from home will have found that this has given them a better work/home life balance. They may therefore wish either to continue thus or perhaps divide their work hours between home and office.

As a result, there may well be a surplus of office space in many town centres, where offices on floors above shops may lie empty. Could this surplus space not profitably be converted into affordable flats? This would a) bring more people, particularly young folk, to live in the centre, b) provide more much-needed affordable housing fairly quickly, and c) provide greater numbers throughout the day who could frequent the cafes, restaurants and takeaways that fear losing customers if not everyone returns to the office.

There may, however, be one serious hindrance, that the VAT on refurbishment can make it too expensive – a reason why we so often see substantial older buildings demolished and replaced by poorer quality but tax-efficient new-builds. A major reduction in this tax, or even a “tax holiday”, could make it worthwhile to convert the unused office space and so bring a vibrant life back to our town centres.

At least this would create a number of jobs to support struggling trades and return some benefit from what we have had to suffer during these dark days.

P Davidson
Falkirk

AS one who does not have access to social media I was very pleased to have your up-to-date information regarding the health of Paul Kavanagh (I’ve never felt this bad – even when the Tories won, October 17). It is, I am sure all will agree, excellent news that he has started on the road to recovery.

Some eight years or so ago I had a similar happening, although mine was obviously much less severe. I awoke one morning with my right arm hanging uselessly over the side of the bed, and eventually it dawned that an emergency phone call was the way to go. The medics with the ambulance arrived in very quick time and I was whisked off to the new Larbert Hospital, where I received instantly the best possible care one could ever hope for.

READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug writer Paul Kavanagh on his health and hospital

Like most of us I had been totally invincible up to then. I am right-handed and had to start to do everything with my left hand, Surprisingly hard to master, even just feeding yourself! After a few days the nurses let me go for long walks in the corridors. It is to be hoped that Paul can get power back into his affected leg, as lots of exercise seemed to be very useful indeed in getting all the complicated functions of the old human system going again.

It all takes time and patience, and meantime can I say to Paul, we all look forward to having you and your pal in our midst again – the independence movement needs you, Wee Ginger Dug.

George M Mitchell
Dunblane