A time for tactics

As we race headlong towards another disastrous five years of SNP-led government, I blame the pro-union parties for failing to recognise that what mattered most was ridding Scotland of the SNP and giving another party or coalition, basically anyone except the Greens, a chance to improve life for all Scots by encouraging enterprise and job creation, which in itself would bring extra tax revenue to help those in need.

Instead, the pro-union parties failed to work together by dropping out of seats to give the party closest to beating the SNP a chance to win. This might have involved them all, as Labour leader Anas Sarwar said, “holding their noses”, but the outcome would have been worth it. Instead I and many others look on with despair at the polls giving Swinney the likelihood of being first minister again. There are people in their twenties who have never known anything but an SNP government and so believe things can’t get better.

They can, people just have to turn up and vote tactically. It’s not a guarantee of success but as the political parties have failed to work together, let us hope the electorate can produce the goods.

The leaders of Scotland's political parties got together to debate issues in Paisley at the weekend (Picture: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Brian Barbour, Haddington, East Lothian

Changing Greer

On Sunday's so-called Leaders’ Debate, televised on BBC Scotland, Ross Greer of the Scottish Greens came up with a wonderful idea for getting us all off the roads.

As I understood it, we buy thousands of electric buses and electric charging points from China, these charging points are then fitted all over Scotland, including the remote Highlands and Islands. The buses then run on the most expensive energy in Europe and the passengers travel for nothing.

Given that many of those passengers will be the unemployed and benefits claimants seeking a day out at the seaside, can Mr Greer say what his plan will cost and who exactly is going to finance it?

Could it be those with the deepest pockets , in which case, is he talking about the Scottish Members of Parliament? Good luck with that.

Bruce Proctor, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Bankrupt ideas

By this stage of the election campaign I almost feel sorry for politicians who still have another three weeks to go, making the same unrealistic promises and lobbing the same insults ad infinitum, and pretending that they have the answers to our problems when we know they don’t. Almost, but not quite.

After all, what sort of person would repeatedly say Scotland should have full control of its “resources”, instead of having their revenues “siphoned off by Westminster”, when he has been told repeatedly that Westminster does not own these resources; private companies do? Where would the treasure come from to buy them out? It’s the same sort of person who claims that, if he wins the election, there could be a Scottish referendum in 2028 – John Swinney. And his acolytes follow suit. Yet they must know Holyrood has no locus in constitutional affairs. The Supreme Court confirmed in November 2022 – at the SNP’s behest – that Holyrood is not empowered to hold a referendum unilaterally: the matter is reserved to Westminster.

Entire campaigns are purely performative, especially the SNP’s. But we need to beware: the Greens are entirely sincere in wanting to leave the UK, legalise drugs, make bus travel free for all, end homework and exams in schools, spend vast sums they do not have on nationalisation, introduce “gender” self-ID and also a four-day working week without cost.

The question is, which parties would most quickly drive us into bankruptcy? Answer: the ones preaching secession.

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh

Polls apart?

No wonder John Swinney was looking a little lost at the Leaders’ debate (“Swinney under pressure on NHS in first TV debate,” April 13).

He did look grim when his party's abysmal record on the NHS was exposed. He tried to fight back, citing his party's favourite topic, independence, but even this has lost what little shine it had. Marches for independence now command a trickle of supporters.

There is a reason for this: Independence has never been fully costed, fully explained and its many dangers have never been satisfactorily solved. To say a vote for the SNP is a vote for independence is not rational in an ordinary election campaign. People vote for many reasons. Mr Swinney is showing signs of concern for the outcome. Are the polls really right?

Gerald Edwards, Glasgow

Mismanaged

The ongoing ferries scandal must surely be recognised by voters as a benchmark of the economic competence of the current Scottish government in running major infrastructure projects.

Brian Wilson asserts (Perspective, 11 April) that running projects of this nature from the Central Belt by politicians with little knowledge of the Highlands and Islands makes little sense, and I would suggest that there needs to be a radical think towards some form of devolution to those areas which are economically impacted by such major blunders.

MSPs representing our Highland and Islands communities obviously understand the issues but they are very much in the minority at Holyrood.

The bottom line is that disastrous mismanagement of projects like the ferries have a huge economic impact on businesses and households in these areas which must be recognised in our new parliament after 7 May.

D G McIntyre, Edinburgh

Help for Farage

After US Vice-President JD Vance’s triumphant intervention in the Hungarian election supporting far-right (ex) President Victor Orban, may I suggest that the Reform leader, Nigel Farage, requests a similar tub-thumping visit from the estimable JD prior to the next UK general election? Maybe Farage’s political hero Donald Trump might even be prepared to pop over and do some far-right flag-waving? What could possibly go wrong?

D Mitchell, Doune, Perthshire

Listening ear

I was sad and angry after reading the report concerning Kimberly Milne, who felt so defeated by the cruelty of her husband, Lee Milne, that she took her own life (your report, April 11).

She’s not the only woman who’s been driven to suicide by the man in her life, and she won’t be the last. This poor woman chose death because she couldn’t bear the life she had to endure with her husband.

The close-up photograph of her which accompanied the report showed a woman who felt totally defeated by her husband. Her eyes were dead – she had nothing to live for. She had a short life, and could no longer bear to live that life with her brutal husband.

I used to be a volunteer at Women’s Aid, and I met women who had unhappy lives because of their partner’s abuse, both physical and psychological.

Anyone who suspects a woman they know is in an unhappy relationship should gently ask her if she wants to speak about her life.

She should be reassured that nothing she said would get back to her husband. Just talking about her miserable life to someone who is concerned about her could make her feel less alone and desperate.

Carolyn Taylor, Broughty Ferry, Dundee

An odd pair

One of the enduring world mysteries is the bizarre relationship between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. While Trump cajoles and bullies other leaders, he simply “simpers" when it comes to Putin.

“Simpers” is the word used in the brilliant editorial in Scotland on Sunday this weekend. Putin, described there as a “murderous” president, seems to have some emotional hold over Trump.

One thing, as the editorial pointed out, is that they share one feature, deep unpopularity among their own people. While Trump's plummeting rating stands at -17.5 per cent, Putin’s is even worse, with 66 per cent of Russians believing he's doing a bad job, and a mere 12 per cent thinking he's doing well. The editorial expresses surprise that as many as 12 per cent think so.

One thing the two men share is an illegal war. Where Putin has Ukraine, now into its fifth year and counting, Trump has Iran, which could well last just as long. Another thing is their arrogance, that they considered that their respective wars would be over in days.

Yet another thing they share is a ruthless dictatorship, one elected, the other, not. Sometimes it's hard to see the difference. At least, the Americans have the mid-terms to look forward to.

Ian Petrie, Edinburgh

A song for Trump

Last week it was the United States that was trying to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. This week the United States is trying to block it.

But no matter what happens, Britain is always somehow in the wrong, either for not sending ships we weren't asked for until after the fact, then for sending them “too late”.

If this was a domestic case, Britain would have a prima facie case for having President Trump charged as an abusive partner using coercive control and gaslighting.

At the very least, next time any entitled American dignitaries come over here expecting the usual pomp and ceremony, instead of “The Star Spangled Banner”, the band should strike up Cockney duo Chas and Dave's “Ain't No Pleasing You”.

Mark Boyle, Johnstone, Renfrewshire

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