CLASSIC BBC 10 o’clock UK national news on May 27: “The Scottish ferry system is in a complete mess”. “Ferries millions over budget and years late”. No mention of the failure of the entrepreneur Jim McColl as CEO of Ferguson’s to build the ferries. No mention of the failure of the specifying organisation, CMAL, to sign off on the design. Plenty of Scottish Government bashing. The government is not an innocent party but the factors involved are wider than the “SNP (Bad)” government.
READ MORE: Scotland faces 'difficult finances' amid claims of £3.5 billion 'black hole'
Compare the BBC’s celebration of the Crossrail debacle, years late, £4.9 billion over budget and costing about a third of the total annual budget for Scotland at £19 billion (around the total Scottish NHS budget).
No mention of the absolute torrent of money that pours from Scotland and much of the rest of the UK into London and the south-east of England depriving the communities north of Watford of vital investment. Surely it is time to stop funding London and spend our money on our needs and people.
David Neilson
Dumfries
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel