WITH four weeks to polling day and about two weeks until postal ballot papers are issued, would it be too much to ask someone from the SNP, preferably the First Minister, to explain to us in some detail exactly what will happen on May 9, when the dust has settled and if the SNP claim victory with the majority of Holyrood seats and possibly about 35% of the vote?
I accept that many will vote SNP as a matter of faith in the hope that somehow the independence train will at last move out of the railway sidings it has been parked in since 2014. Maybe a few more of us could be persuaded to give at least one vote to the local SNP candidate if we had at least a wee hint as to what is planned after the post-election celebrations are over.
This past week has seen the SNP campaign concentrate its efforts on the cost of energy. I have studied the press statements, watched the videos and listened to the social media posts in the sincere hope of finding out exactly how this laudable aim will be achieved. I confess, try as I might, there seems to be no real and plausible answer to be found.
I was struck by the First Minister’s recent visit to the massive Whitelee wind farm. In a short video, dressed ironically in a Scottish Power jacket, he asks the question “Scotland has huge energy resources, so why are bills going through the roof?” and goes on to state: “Only independence will truly allow us to use Scotland’s resources for the benefit of people here in Scotland”. No attempt was made to explain how this will be achieved.
What exactly will an independent Scotland actually do to reduce our energy bills? The wind farms and energy infrastructure are sadly all in private ownership. Does he simply intend to try to increase taxes on the massive profits of Scottish Power and all the other foreign-owned energy companies that are sucking many millions of pounds from our bank accounts?
What will happen when the Torness nuclear power station comes to the end of its life in a few years’ time? What will keep our lights on then when the wind does not blow? Presumably we will have to import electricity. How will we be able to reduce the price of that potentially very expensive electricity?
I think we deserve to know.
Anne Laird
Inverness
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