WHEN Jo Coburn, the host of the BBC’s Politics Live, failed yet again to challenge a Tory MP – this time Tim Loughton – over duplicitously misleading assertions “… the cost of living crisis which is being handled particularly badly in Scotland and with the crises in the Scottish education system and healthcare outcomes…”, the SNP’s Dr Philippa Whitford proudly and emphatically spoke up.

“If you look at things like A&E waiting times, cancer waiting times, any of the data on closing the education gap, you would see that Scotland is actually outperforming England and the rest of the UK …” at which point Dr Whitford was abruptly interrupted by her suddenly animated host with the words “well hang on a second, it’s a very bold claim to make … and we don’t have the data here …” which statement begs the question of why Loughton’s claims were not challenged by Coburn in the first place.

READ MORE: Philippa Whitford destroys 'nonsense' Tory claims on Scotland's NHS during Politics Live

Coburn then went on to try to justify Loughton’s slant on the Scottish Government before Dr Whitford not only decisively conveyed her strong arguments, in spite of repeated attempted interruptions by Coburn, but castigated Coburn and others for not “taking the bother” to look at the data on Scotland’s relative performance beforehand (in other words for not simply accepting Tory soundbites)!

Hopefully Jo Coburn, as well as her colleagues at the BBC, will have learned from this experience and as we approach a pivotal plebiscite on self-determination will honour their commitment to impartiality by preparing objectively and getting their facts straight so they can competently challenge both sides of the independence debate.

Watching the Tuesday edition of the programme on the BBC’s iPlayer, from 32:03-38:31 minutes (note the “clarification banner” on recent polling at end), would seem to provide a good lesson on how to counter some of the complete nonsense uttered by supporters of the Union – it might also be instructive for some of our “quieter” independence-supporting politicians!

Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian

WHAT really surprised me was that I wasn’t surprised when Siobhain McDonagh said: “Only last week we suspended two Labour councillors in Edinburgh because they weren’t prepared to vote for the Tories over the SNP” on the BBC’s Politics Live programme on Tuesday.

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

YOUR article “500K Scots could struggle to access cash, MPs warn” (July 11) reflects reality for many Scots on a daily basis. So for banks to exacerbate this situation in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis is alarming.

This headline and the impact bank closures have already had in some rural and outlying areas has been devastating for some very fragile communities. For banks to effectively deny access to cash in times of extreme hardship is merely exacerbating the situation, encouraging households to “swipe” and lose control of spending. The question is, is this move by banks a breach of one’s human rights, denying one’s access to their own cash?

READ MORE: SNP target millions of homes in first phase of Scottish independence campaigning

The Scottish Affairs Committee in Westminster is calling for assistance for those transitioning to digitisation to comply with the banks’ move to a cashless society, and that is welcomed. However, the race to a cashless society is certainly verging on elitism, when we consider eight million in the UK do not have access to a bank account!

A move to a cashless society is not acceptable for all sorts of reasons. It creates barriers, isolation, inequality and poverty. Isolation and loneliness has been a major issue during the pandemic and bank closures will only serve to intensify this situation. The steady decline in the use of cash is having a devastating impact on charities – no more popping the few pence change into the charity tin!

This is a real, serious issue for individuals, households and the wider society as a whole in the midst of a cost-of -living crisis, so perhaps, just perhaps, the leadership candidates for the Conservative party could take their gaze off tax cuts for the rich and address this looming crisis.

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

RW Millar (Letters, July 8) asks for a draft constitution ASAP from the Scottish Government. Obviously he does not read The National regularly enough, or he would already have read numerous articles on the one already being drafted independently, which always give the details for finding it online.

It is more than a year now since I found and read it. This interactive consultation allows for, in fact welcomes, input from members of the public, since it is intended to represent what the people feel should be in it, particularly in making politicians accountable to us – something a constitution drawn up by politicians could be light on.

Mr Millar, just look up www.constitutionforscotland.scot.

P Davidson
Falkirk