Sir, – So here we are on the brink of punitive council tax rises and 15 years on from the SNP flagship manifesto policy: “We will get rid of the unfair council tax”.
The policy has been repeated twice since, with the usual hubris and razzmatazz, but has barely seen the light of day and only a simple crude SNP-enforced local council tax freeze lasting nine years in the interim period.
No mention by the Scottish Government’s Social Justice and Fairness Commission either.
I live in a modest three-bedroom Aberdeen semi and dutifully pay my G band rate, the second highest at £3,462 pa, but less than a mile away in Rubislaw Den, are house occupants who pay the highest H band at £4,292 – only 23% or £15.96 a week more than I do.
Yet some of their houses are valued at anything up to 10 times and beyond the value of mine!
Where, I ask Nicola Sturgeon after 15 years, is the “Social Justice” in these inequitable council tax bandings?
William Morgan, Midstocket, Aberdeen.
False claims over nuclear energy
Sir, – I refer to the article which referred to the views of Tory MSP Liam Kerr who claimed the SNP government had not taken into account the consequence of closing existing nuclear power stations and criticised their policy of not using nuclear as a future energy source
As is often the case with pro-nuclear politicians, Liam Kerr’s claims are false as nuclear energy is now the most expensive form of energy, and in 2019 Scotland met 90.1% of its equivalent electricity consumption from renewables and has a legally binding target of reaching net-zero emissions by 2045.
So nuclear energy, whether fission or fusion, has no future in Scotland and Liam Kerr and his party should acknowledge that and support the range of renewable options off our coast in tidal and wave energy, which is the carbon- free future together with micro hydro and some onshore wind projects
Tor Justad, Chairperson, HANT (Highlands Against Nuclear Transport), Ord Terrace, Strathpeffer.
Local services will bear brunt of cuts
Sir, – Moray Council set its council tax rise at 3%, which could have been worse, especially with the £371 million cut to council funding by the Scottish Government.
This cut was cushioned by Barnett consequentials of £120m and the Scottish Government expecting a backlash at local elections found £80m down the back of the sofa, thus leaving a shortfall of £171m. So for Moray Council to set its rise at 3% looks fine, but I’m sure we will soon hear about more cuts to services in Moray. When the local elections come around remember where these cuts came from and vote accordingly.
Ian Gray, Viewhill Cottage, Mosstowie, Elgin.
Wear two masks if you don’t feel safe
Sir, – It’s good news that the SNP administration has announced it is finally dropping more (but not all) Covid restrictions. Better late than never.
No doubt there will be denigrators of this. Well, they can stay at home and let the rest of us carry on with our lives. They can wear two face coverings, so there will still be two layers of cloth between our respiratory systems and theirs.
Geoff Moore, Braeface Park, Alness.
Johnson badly let down whole of UK
Sir, – James Millar’s recent article, in regard to the shortcomings of Boris Johnson was accurate, factually correct and to the point. The whole of the UK (including Scotland) was badly let down by his government’s actions, indeed, inactions.
Ron Campbell, Richmond Walk, Aberdeen.