“SHAMEFUL” was the cry from Ian Blackford MP at PMQs, shameful to impose a new tax on the young and low earners through National Insurances increases. But Mr Blackford didn’t stop there, as he claimed Conservative austerity had returned. Furlough and the temporary uplift to Universal Credit are about to end. Conservative austerity is always around, it is never far away, and Scotland more than ever must recognise we didn’t vote Conservative and we certainly didn’t vote for austerity.
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
WATCH: Ian Blackford blasts Boris Johnson for backing 'austerity 2.0'
NATIONAL Insurance payments and payouts should continue for a lifetime. No payments for people earning an income of, say, £500 per week, which would be made up to that for everyone earning less. All income above that would be taxed at a fixed percentage. This would apply to everybody of whatever age, and would be enough to pay for free health care of all kinds. It would also do away with employers’ NI payments. it would apply to everyone residing in the UK.
William Purves
via email
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 The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.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 here