I’m sorry, the SNP haven’t a clue - Readers' letters

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I’m sorry, SNP haven’t a clue

I never thought I would ever praise the SNP for their honesty but, only one week after the Oxford Economics report suggesting that Scotland’s economy needs a boost equal to the entire global output of Google, we have the admission that the present Scottish government haven’t a clue.

In launching the ‘National Challenge Competition’, with rewards of up to £50m for good ideas, I surmise that they need others to come up with the ideas for them. And I thought they were sitting on all the levers for a miraculous economic recovery, if ever allowed to use them.

Ken Currie, Liberton Drive, Edinburgh.

Cuts cause trouble

Alex Orr (letters, 13 April), List candidate for the SNP in Lothians, refers to the complexities at the root of the anti-social behaviour he has recently witnessed in Edinburgh. What he fails to mention is that we have had SNP governments in one form or another since 2007.

I assume in his analysis of causes he is referring to homelessness, poverty, SNP and Conservative austerity, including failing policies in our policing, proud health service and that Scotland was once the envy of the world for our education prowess and invention.

The SNP have failed and under-funded our councils that provide a massive amount of the everyday services we used to enjoy but have been decimated.

Apart from anti-social behaviour we have the worst drugs-related deaths rate in Europe, three times England’s; we don't hear that comparison from the SNP, eh?

Credit where due, Ms Sturgeon has held up her hands and accepted responsibility, albeit she then sacked her drugs minister - doesn't appear to me that is taking personal responsibility.

While the various so-called super independence cliques are fighting among themselves, I hope we shall see Labour streaking ahead on both votes, constituency and list!

Douglas McBean, West Pilton Way, Edinburgh.

Greens go coy

Independence is a major constitutional issue, is a big step, and as is well known, the Greens are in favour of it, voting for it whenever they can.

Yet, in their TV broadcast the other evening, it received only a fleeting mention near the end - are they trying to hide the issue, are they ashamed of it?

This was dishonest at worst, and economical with the truth at best!

William Ballantine, Dean Road, Bo'ness.

Planning problems

Scottish Conservative Party leader Douglas Ross MP, is advocating reform of the Scottish government’s Reporter planning appeal system.

Ross Grier, Scottish Green Party, MSP has also written several articles, with the same concerns, on this issue in the last three years.

The crux of their concerns is the disquiet of many local Scottish communities with the existing system, where the Reporter overturns almost 50 per cent of all local planning decisions’.

In my community two planning applications by Bearsden Golf Club were both substantially rejected by the local planning board.

It voted 2:1 against course expansion near the UNESCO Roman Antonine Wall and 6:1 against the associated housing development, yet, the Reporter upheld the developer's appeal for the golf course expansion and we expect the same for the housing development .

Given the community concerns with the existing system, perhaps, your readers might be interested in our group's experience?

Alan Brown, Antonine Road, Bearsden.