Sir, – The Chancellor Sajid Javid, on behalf of our Westminster lords and masters, has decided to support HS2 at a cost of more than £106 billion (latest estimate).
This rail link will connect London to Birmingham and on to Manchester.
HS2 will have zero benefit to Scotland but under the Union we will have to contribute around £9bn towards the cost.
If Scotland were independent £9bn could totally transform our own rail system plus dramatically improve our roads infrastructure.
This is an example of why the Tories do not want Scotland to be independent.
Harry Key.
20 Mid Street,
Largoward.
Please EU, keep the light on for return of UK
Sir, – Today, Brexit Day, is an incredibly sad occasion.
The loss of the many economic, social and environmental benefits that membership of the largest single market in the world brings will leave us all the poorer in so many ways.
Benefits associated with the free movement of goods, capital, services and people across the 28-member state European Union have been immense.
Our exiting makes me angry as this is such a stupid and needless act of self-destruction, hitting the poorest hardest. It is a move I predict we will bitterly go on to regret.
Pro-EU events being held today do however afford us the opportunity to celebrate the benefits that membership has brought us – peace, stability and prosperity. The European flag will also still fly outside the Scottish Parliament.
Pro-EU campaigners like myself are now in the same position that those who campaigned for the UK to leave what was the EEC were in 47 years ago. I would urge the EU to keep a light on for us, the fight continues and one day, maybe in the not too distant future, I am certain these efforts will be rewarded and we will return.
Alex Orr.
2/3 Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh.
Bumpy ride for speed bumps
Sir, – I couldn’t but laugh at the speed bumps installed and then removed in Victoria Park, Arbroath.
Angus must be behind the curve on the latest information which is to remove speed bumps as they are injurious to health.
The current thinking is the brake dust arising from braking at these hazards is very harmful and they should be removed.
One could argue those in the near vicinity are being needlessly exposed to a cancerous risk although this will have to be balanced against road safety.
Nevertheless it may give rise to claim those resident nearby are being put at risk, given the clear supporting evidence arising from this recent study.
It is my understanding some local authorities in England are already acting on this and removing speed bumps.
AG Walker.
Puddledub Cottage,
Guthrie.
Vexed about vexillology
Sir, – If the first minister must put the vex in vexillology (the study of flags) by debating the post-Brexit flying of the EU flag over the Scottish Parliament, when there are so many pressing practical problems afflicting Scotland, then perhaps she should step down.
Her replacement could then focus on among other things: declining education standards, rising drug deaths and the multitude of problems with the NHS and its hospital projects.
Otto Inglis.
6 Inveralmond Grove,
Edinburgh.
Sailor is fit enough to work
Sir, – I read with interest about the “shamanic sailor” and his partner who stole a boat and did not show up in court because, according to his solicitor, “in the lifestyle he chooses dates are not of the same significance to him as perhaps they are to others”.
As part of his defence the solicitor also stated that he is sharing a house with his partner and is on benefits.
I just wonder if his lifestyle allows him to show up in time to collect his benefits.
Seriously,why should the taxpayer fund this layabout’s lifestyle?
If he is fit enough to steal and sail a sizeable boat, he is fit enough to work.
Ian Stewart.
Boyack Crescent,
Monifieth.
Rates relief will leave black hole
Sir, – The Bill to remove rates relief from all independent schools in Scotland is an unwise, reckless move.
In Scotland we already pay more tax on wages than the rest of the UK, pay more council tax on our properties and pay more stamp duty on higher value properties.
What does removal of rates relief mean?
For the 102 independent schools in Scotland with circa 30,000 students there are four likely outcomes.
Increased pupil fees.
Many parents will no longer be able to afford to send their children to independent schools meaning massive extra pressure on state schools that are under staffed and bursting at the seams.
Increased running costs.
Local teacher redundancies.
The forced closure of independents and the building of new state schools?
Why give exception to music school and no exception to special faith schools? Why pick on one small sector of charities when all others enjoy rates relief?
It seems a small short term benefit will bring a massive long term headache that will cost millions more than the extra rates received.
Finally, as a parent who has two children at an independent Christian school, where else can we send our children that they will get the Christian ethos it provides?
Ben Burgess.
Glenfarg,
Perth and Kinross.
Vast spending must cease
Sir, – As Malcolm Parkin detailed recently (No more money, just debt, Courier, January 9) we in UK, including Scotland, are vastly in debt, with interest charges of about £1 billion a week.
He gave the example of aid payments, especially to developing countries and often without diligent scrutiny as to how the money is spent.
The huge sum of £14bn, as a fixed percentage of our GDP, is presently allocated.
Money is needed, of course, for disaster relief, such as now in Australia.
Any prudent householder in debt, aiming to curtail spending, would assess the possibilities. Governments are very often imprudent.
Examples include, first, billions, or trillions, spent on green tokenism in not possibly influencing world climate since our CO2 output is negligible at under 1% of the planet’s total, while other nations not curbing carbon release the bulk of greenhouse gases.
Secondly, our huge remits to the EU, though soon to fall, have much contributed to our debts.
Thirdly, there must be doubts as to some present defence spending, such as the “independent” nuclear weapons and the two new carriers.
We need forces mainly for national defence and to support “firefighting” overseas.
The HS2 rail link, vastly over budget, now likely set for cancellation, a vanity project, represents a predictably unwise policy.
Most political decisions are complex, but very much more common sense, along with expertise, is now vitally needed to reduce bad spending and the sheer waste of present times.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.
111 Viewlands Rd West,
Perth.
