I COULD not agree more with Kevin McKenna on the Growth Commission (What’s the point of independence if we stick with neo-liberal ideas?, October 21). It would seem obvious that the SNP rank and file were and are aghast at the prospect of 10 or 20 years more austerity, no independent currency or real independence until the six mythical tests are passed. Suffice to say, it appears to be another means of kicking the can down the road.

Kevin McKenna is a bit generous though, I think, in saying the Growth Commission would have been a starting point. On the contrary, in the National Assemblies (certainly the one we attended in Aviemore) it was presented as a fait accompli, and the only purpose of the National Assembly was to “ratify” it prior to it going to full conference. I think the level of opposition surprised the party at the assembly and the conference, and I believe it was only passed by virtue of there being no alternative on offer and because it had dragged on for two years. Thank goodness for Dr Tim Rideout at least getting one amendment through on the timetabling of a new currency.

READ MORE: Kevin McKenna: What’s the point of independence if we stick with neo-liberal ideas?

If the Growth Commission was to be just a starting point, why does Common Weal’s Resilience Economics never seem to be mentioned in SNP circles? True, the Social Justice and Fairness Commission (SJFC) was set up by the Scottish Government, but was it always going to be or was it a result of the backlash against the Growth Commission? The SJFC has a consultation out at the moment on its proposals for UBI and so on, which started on May 15 and I think is still open, although I and others could not see an actual closing date. Worth looking at though, and giving some input.

I can’t help thinking though that the Growth Commission is at the forefront of SNP thinking and the SJFC ideas do not dovetail with that, so which will they choose? The acid test is whether any of its eventual recommendations for delivering social justice are adopted. The proposal on UBI is for yet another pilot scheme, possibly nationwide, but again a whiff of kicking the can down the road. Kevin McKenna is right in saying there is no point in replacing a right-wing UK with a right-wing Scotland favouring the few.

One of the things which should be outlawed from day one of a new Scotland is corporate lobbying firms having any access to government which we do not have as the public. Why can’t they just take part in legislative consultations by submitting their views online? It is all we get to do. It always sat ill with me that Heathrow Airport and Gibraltar (Gibraltar??) among others were at conference providing jollies for the chosen few (not us peasants). Why exactly were they there? How does airport expansion sit with the SNP’s supposed green credentials?

READ MORE: A fair, independent society cannot be established overnight

We do not need the gradualism of the Growth Commission. We need radical change delivered overnight. Think it’s impossible to change things overnight? Well, think back to March 23, when Covid really hit with a lockdown that saw life stop. We had to adjust immediately to a totally alien and regimented way of life and we did, for the greater good.

We have to decide if those without hope in our society are worth that sort of effort, ripping up the old system overnight for something better. We need to think about the Glasgow medical students being threatened with losing their future careers for daring to operate a drug consumption van in the city centre in order to save lives. Isn’t that what they are supposed to do? But instead of facing up to the drug problem and other problems, too often the UK says no and the Scottish Government says okay, we can’t, but simultaneously we won’t push too hard for independence for fear of frightening the middle class.

I get why they don’t want to. With the new rates of taxation, people earning in the mid 40Ks are caught with National Insurance contributions going through the roof, raising their overall taxation to more than England. That is unfair, but can be sorted, even now. We cannot let those who have enough stop progress being made for the majority of society at the bottom of the heap,

Julia Pannell
Friockheim, Tayside