I READ the very first article in Thursday’s paper, “‘Progress’ made on the sale of airport”, and despaired.

I declare my interest as a master planner, when I have always seen Prestwick Airport together with Hunterston deep-water port as a vital part of any long-term plan for an independent Scotland. Around these two incredible facilities, owned and managed by the Scottish Government, we should look to creating what is called a “free port”, but it could be called anything. The inexpensive opportunity to use these world-class facilities to build up a modern industrial base which, in one form or another, Scotland has to have, can never be repeated.

That area has the skilled labour, the management, scientific, research, communications, services, right down to golf-courses – everything needed, close at hand, to attract investment and know-how from Scotland itself and from around the world.

There are examples everywhere but we need look no further than the example of a newly independent Singapore’s government’s venture in Jurong – a virtual marshland turned into a hugely successful, world-beating industrial park. From this it built further complexes, technologically more sophisticated as time went on. Singapore, with same population as Scotland, in 50 years from an entrepôt essentially based on shipping, now leads the world in the ease of doing business, is ranked third in the world for GDP per capita by the World Bank and IMF, and ranked 10th in tourism by the World Economic Forum, with excellence in education, health and race relations – all with very few to none of the natural, human and scenic resources that we have.

Having been involved to a modest extent with this extraordinary success story (albeit with other concerns as to human rights, etc), I make no apologies for shouting from the rooftops that there is no earthly reason why we can’t just get on with has to be done to build up our nation, now. Let’s move!

And what better voting stimulant to take us into this coming election! Come on, Scotland.

Gordon Benton,

Newburgh, Aberdeenshire

DAVID Pratt’s article in Thursday’s paper expressed concern that a US publication painted a misleading picture of Scotland in relation to defence matters. He should not have been surprised.

Over the years I have read articles on Scottish independence by Americans and have often been astonished at their use of terms like separatism. They seem to be unaware that Scotland was a well-established country before most of the countries of modern Europe, and for some centuries before the USA was cobbled together from the various territories stolen from the indigenous inhabitants by Christian invaders.

Anyone interested in American foreign policy should read the book by C Kelly and S Laycock, All The Countries The Americans Have Ever Invaded, which looks at all the 194 countries involved. In addition to direct invasion, America has always assumed the right to interfere in the affairs of other nations by creating banana republics, subverting democratic governments or using the CIA to interfere in secret.

There was nothing novel about Trump’s slogan “America First”, but perhaps it should have added that nowhere else really matters.

Dr PM Dryburgh

Edinburgh

GREG Russell’s excellent article “Swinney beats no-confidence vote called by Scottish Tories” (March 11) highlights how the Scottish Tories have, with their politically orchestrated circus, scored an own goal. At the same time they have persuaded the Scottish Labour and the Scottish Libems to back their failed vote of no-confidence.

The outcome clearly demonstrates that opposition parties in Scotland, excluding the Greens, are united in their efforts to adopt Ruth Davidson’s “put the boot into Scotland” campaign as their number one priority for the upcoming elections. It could also be construed that they, Labour and LibDems, also support PM Boris Johnson’s derisory offer of a 1% pay increase for the NHS nurses in England.

This has come at a time when the Scottish Labour Party has dropped Hollie Cameron from their candidate’s list. Hollie’s “crime” was for having the temerity to suggest that the people of Scotland have the democratic right to express their view as to whether or not Scotland should become an independent nation. I trust that Hollie does not become disillusioned with politics in Scotland because we need committed bright young people to voice their

opinions and participate in political debate.

I will be more than a little surprised if the Tory party policies are election winners for either the Labour or LibDem parties!

Thomas L Inglis

Fintry

THE current behaviour of the leadership of the Tory party in Scotland needs to be addressed.

Both Ruth Davidson and Douglas Ross are currently ubiquitous on our TVs and radios and in our newspapers.

However, so concerned are they that the former cannot leave Holyrood quick enough and the latter – lest we forget – was also an MSP who couldn’t leave quick enough and that is why he isn’t now sitting in Holyrood.

This should be pointed out at every turn.

So when Douglas Ross sticks his cherry in he should be immediately countered with “Well what did you do about Priti Patel, Gavin Williamson, Matt Hancock or indeed Boris Johnson?”

All guilty of egregious breaking of the Ministerial Code at Westminster, or indeed actual law-breaking, but allowed to get away with it by the passive acquiescence of patsies like Douglas Ross.

He should be challenged on his actual actions in the place where he does sit and not be allowed to pour faux outrage in a legislature in which he has no remit.

Kevin Cordell

Broughty Ferry