Congratulations to The Herald and David Leask. "Scotching the myths" is an excellent piece of investigative journalism, and is long overdue. The detailed figures quoted confirm what many of us have believed or suspected for a long time: that Scotland does not get preferential financial treatment from the UK government. In fact, it is clear that Northern Ireland, London and some English regions are more favourably treated.
The comparisons of public spending, taxes raised, social benefits and public services in Scotland with other areas of the UK comprehensively disprove the myths being peddled by the metropolitan media. They portray Scotland as a nation of drunken, lazy subsidy junkies living off English taxpayers, and this is increasingly believed and resented by the English.
The big problem now is how to get the London media even to print, let alone accept, the figures and findings of The Herald investigation. Yet that is what must happen if the myths are to be dispelled and the surge of anti-Scottish feeling in London and parts of England are to be combatted. I would like to think that our 59 Scottish MPs at Westminster (of all parties) would involve themselves in such a campaign, but I'm not holding my breath.
Iain A D Mann, 7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.
The Herald's myth-busting approach will be welcomed by many people who have forlornly written letters to newspapers pointing out the truth surrounding earnestly-quoted works of fiction such as Gers (Government Expenditure and Revenues, Scotland). This was an exercise started by the Tories and continued by Labour to convince Scots that, unlike the Irish, Norwegians and Icelanders, they needed London.
Meanwhile, Labour plucked figures from the air and insulted Scotland by claiming we would have a £5000-per-head black hole. This was still going on as recently as last spring. Shockingly, Labour leader Wendy Alexander went so far as to call this imagined subsidy from England a "Union dividend". Given that Ms Alexander has apologised to UK Labour for losing the election, will she now apologise to Scotland or at the very least repudiate Labour's embarrassing £5000 figure and admit it was wrong?
Perhaps readers should be aware that the only real black hole in politics belongs to the UK Westminster government which does politics and governance on the never-never, by borrowing a staggering £34bn annually just to make the books balance. Incidentally, Ireland, Iceland and Norway have surplusses. Do they lend it to London?
Angus B MacNeil MP, Scottish National Party, 31 Bayhead, Stornoway.
After decades of misinformation, subterfuge and blatant lies by Unionist bodies, it's good to see your newspaper's research getting to the bottom of things. Solid journalism and no mistake. It's up to Scottish voters to make informed choices about the destiny of their own country, which is a touch difficult to do when so many statistics are based on creating a climate of fear.
It seems peace has broken out at Holyrood, in a strange way. The parliament seems more business-like, with far less points-scoring than before. Let's hope it continues. I pay my rates and want things just so.
Stuart Rivans, 31 Galloway Avenue, Hamilton.
Congratulations to David Leask and Douglas Fraser. I had thought David Cameron was worth listening to; however, his announcement of intent to remove voting rights from Scottish MPs, and to reduce the money going to the Scottish Parliament, reminded me of what damage his party did to Scotland, and now threatens to do once again.
I pay no heed to anything the English tabloids say, but I am glad someone keeps an eye on them, and steps in to counter their nonsense. I guess we knew what they and the Tories were saying about Scotland not paying its way was an outright lie: now you have proved it. Well done, The Herald, for standing up for us all.
Andrew C Wilson, Secretary, Howwood Community Council, Kirktonholm, Station Road, Howwood.
May I congratulate your team on the excellent article "Scotching the myth"? It is journalism such as this that stands you apart from the UK press. Now, I believe I'm right in saying that Scotland has (roughly) 10% of the UK's population. Additionally, although I have no figures for the share of mineral resources we own, I do know that we have a huge amount of non-mineral (ie, renewable) energy resources - much greater than 10% of the UK total when combined. That tends to make one wonder just who are the subsidy junkies now.
Barry Lees, 12 Denholm Street, Greenock.
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