IN Tuesday’s National Richie Venton takes a well-aimed swipe at Labour and the SNP over austerity (There’s plenty of money to reverse austerity, Sep 10). And he doesn’t miss!
The SNP are “Stronger for Scotland” in the abstract, but when concrete resistance to Westminster is needed, they crumble – as typified by their capitulation over the universal Winter Fuel Payment to pensioners.
The Scottish Socialist Party’s plan for a “Scottish Service Tax” based on income and not the arbitrary value of one’s address is an excellent one and would be within the competence of Holyrood, if the Scottish Government had the courage of their convictions.
READ MORE: How did Scottish Labour MPs vote on Winter Fuel Payment cut
We saw a catastrophic collapse of the SNP’s vote at the General Election in July, indubitably due to their record of failure to resist the British government’s policies. And a similar collapse in support for independence can be anticipated if we cannot provide evidence that it will bring about positive material change for Scotland’s working-class majority.
It is fine to say that support for an independent Scotland remains around 50% while the question remains rhetorical, but when it comes to an actual struggle it will call for a convincing argument that we will be better off independent.
The people of Scotland are crying out for relief from the austerity heaped upon us by successive UK governments.
Excuses that “a big boy did it and ran away” will not cut it. Scotland needs change, and needs it now.
Michael Davidson
Edinburgh
RICHIE Venton, as ever it seems, hits the nail on the head with his critique of Labour and the SNP.
Before the General Election, Anas Sarwar lied through his teeth when denying there would be austerity under Labour. His party also claimed they would reduce the energy price burden on households. Instead, they have removed the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of pensioners and allowed a 10% increase in gas and electricity prices. Not only does their duplicity know no bounds, neither does their deliberate callousness.
In 2017 (under Corbyn, but with the snake Starmer in his shadow cabinet), Labour provided evidence that thousands of pensioners would die over winter should the fuel allowance be scrapped or restricted. Despite knowing this, I predict that the nodding-dog Labour MPs elected from Scotland will support Starmer despite the higher fuel bills in their own country relative to the south: careerist cowards.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer tells SNP to be 'honest about financial mess'
I credit the SNP with calling out Labour on austerity during the election campaign, but what will they do now? The sum total of nothing, it seems. The SNP are a mainstream party with zero cutting edge and an unwillingness to face down Westminster even in such circumstances.
We need a party willing to fight back against Unionism and in favour of the majority of us. It’s a shame the SSP are not still in the Scottish Parliament. They led the way with campaigns for free prescriptions, free public transport and universal free school meal provision while their MSPs were in there.
David Stevenson
Cambuslang
ON Monday Kezia Dugdale appeared on Newsnight when the Winter Fuel Payment was being discussed. She was the third person to speak and I expected her to state that she thought it was the wrong choice by the Labour government.
I almost fell off the sofa to hear her defend the policy and claim pensioners were financially one of the best-off groups in the country having received a £900 pension uplift last year.
READ MORE: We sold out our indyref anniversary event – so we're adding extra capacity!
A few thoughts. How much did her salary and the salary of MPs go up last year? Pensioners in this country have one of the lowest pensions in Europe. This policy was a choice. Many different choices could have been made – they chose to go after the weakest, not the very wealthy nor big business with their excessive profits.
I knew Labour was no longer for the working man and had left socialism behind many years ago but I was stunned to hear Kezia agree with this “difficult” decision. Neither Sarwar nor Starmer have any allegiance to working people. These two millionaires have only one motive – power.
There was no doubt the policy would pass in the Commons and no doubt also that Sarwar will still be in hiding and not be asked any questions about it. Flynn is absolutely right – Sarwar is not the hard man standing up for Scotland, more the “hard to find” man. “Read my lips: no austerity under Labour”. I say if his lips are moving he is lying. Far too many examples of before and after the election and all the sudden changes in policy. They lied to get elected and will do the same in Scotland for the 2026 election.
What has happened to Labour, and who is going to work for the poor in this country?
Winifred McCartney
Paisley
WE are appalled at the FM announcing there will be a committee set up to discuss a memorial for Betty Windsor, when there has just been announced a cut in pensioners’ winter fuel payments. If the billionaire monarchy wish to erect a statue to their mammy, an over-privileged woman, let them pay for it. If this comes to fruition we will be ending our long-standing SNP membership.
Names supplied
East Kilbride
I SEE the price of a first-class stamp is to increase by more than 22% from October 7 to £1.65. Nick Landon, chief commercial officer at Royal Mail, says it’s because volumes have decreased by two-thirds. So the strategy seems to be “we are losing business to our competitors, let’s put the price up”. Looks like the universal service is under threat, as are deliveries of second-class mail (£0.85) on a Saturday. But then we were promised we’d be Better Together, weren’t we?
Professor Alan Boyter
Strachur, Argyll
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