YP Letters: Folly of Scots subsidised by English cash

From: Gordon Lawrence, Sheffield.
Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Scottish Parliament during the debate on independence.Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Scottish Parliament during the debate on independence.
Nicola Sturgeon addresses the Scottish Parliament during the debate on independence.

STIRRING up the already turbulent waters of Brexit, Nicola Sturgeon seems hell bent on asserting her personality (Neil McNicholas, The Yorkshire Post, March 21).

She reminds me of a quick, irritating little mouse that you can’t get rid of. She seems intent on foresaking the benign pussy cat, that is the United Kingdom, and leading her luckless country into the giant rodent trap that calls itself the European Union.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Why should anyone renounce the subsidised haven of the UK with their democratic voice strongly represented in the existing Parliament for a dubious position in a self-appointed, undemocratic bureaucracy having to cede control to a legislature that consists of 27 other disparate, unsympathetic and self-interested nations?

The only answer to that is the sheer historical and hysterical hatred of England that a large minority of, especially urban Scots, harbour and revel in. And it is this that the First Minister so brilliantly exploits.

From: Dave Croucher, Pinfold Gardens, Doncaster.

THE UK Government has enough on its plate at the moment with the Brexit negotiations, but if the Scottish leader presses on with her plan and the people of Scotland vote to leave the UK, it could cause them more problems than they have thought of.

Scotland was only a member of Europe through the UK membership. European leaders said that if the UK pulls out, then Scotland would no longer be a member and would have to apply to become a member, If Scotland leaves the UK they will stand alone, not a UK or a EC member, which will also impact upon their bargaining and trading position.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There would have to be a real border and customs system set up which would have to be fenced between Scotland and England to stop illegal entry from other countries via Scotland, which would mean that anything shipped between the two countries would come under export/import rules.

After weighing up the finances of Scotland and their subsidies with the rest of the UK, I can’t see any upside for the Scottish people. They are already getting more than the English.

From: Alan Chapman, Beck Lane, Bingley.

DEVOLUTION and Scottish Independence battle with Article 50 and Brexit for the recent headlines, all well covered by The Yorkshire Post.

Time to take a closer look at the devolved Scottish government, the seat of power that resides in Edinburgh and consists of 128 MSPs, so that 65 seats provide an overall majority.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The SNP have 63 members (not a clear majority), Conservatives 31, are the party making a comeback in Scotland? Labour 23, Green six and Lib Dems five.

The debate to start yet another independence referendum took place this week and the First Minister is set to earn every penny of her £69,861 salary, as she attempts to divert Scottish local opinion away from the mess that her party is making of running Scotland into the mire.

Scotland’s debt mounts, which is normal for left wing administrations, and their education system is floundering, so how long before its electorate wakes up?

From: Brian Sturdy, Honley, Holmfirth.

IF there is to be another referendum as to whether Scotland becomes independent, I suggest that the vote is open to all of the United Kingdom. Then we have a chance to let the Scottish people know if we want them to be part of our United Kingdom.

From: David E Warnes, Maple Walk, Brandesburton, Driffield.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

IF, as it seems, the Scottish National Party really want another referendum, then Theresa May should give them one. The sooner the better. This then will surely call the bluff of the scheming Lady Macbeth (Nicola Sturgeon).

Rail disputes hit growth

From: Beckie Hart, CBI Yorkshire and Humber director.

SOME parts of northern England are more productive than others, which matters because productivity is the only sustainable route to higher wages, and therefore living standards.

A recent CBI report, Unlocking Regional Growth, identified transport as one of four ways of increasing an area’s productivity. Improving transport links between cities in the North could provide access to a population of 16m – the same number within one hour of London.

But the opposite is also true – hampering transport harms productivity.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

That’s why businesses are keen to support modernisation and avoid the disruption to train travel that took place across Northern Rail and Merseyrail routes last week.

To avoid damage to the economy, industrial action should always be considered as a last resort. So businesses across the North will be hoping that any future disputes can be resolved through dialogue rather than disruption.

Foreign aid baby follies

From: K Cooper, Wentworth Road, Dronfield Woodhouse, Dronfield.

I CAN’T come to terms with the fact that we are so good in this country at spending millions of pounds abroad for starving children, while this year alone, we will happily kill 202,000 British babies up to eight months old in the womb. It does not make sense to me.

Re-cycle cash

From: David Kennedy, Leeds.

INSTEAD of the Tour de Yorkshire, how about spending the money on lessons to teach cyclists to observe the Highway Code? It might be more beneficial.