Readers' Letters: It's time for John Swinney to back Scotland's universities

It is reasonable to expect that John Swinney's door will soon be chapped by the Principal of Edinburgh University bearing a big sack over his shoulder full of legitimate grievances and asking him, not only as an alumnus, but as First Minister, to reverse the disastrous policies of the SNP governments of Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, ones which have dealt harshly with the Universities and Colleges, as well summarised by Calum Ross (“University sector ‘at risk’ due to funding gap”, 6 May).

The SNP has adopted Scandinavian policies regarding student fees, in conjunction with US institutional funding levels, a combination that has particularly disadvantaged Scottish students, not only jeopardising their futures but betraying a historical tradition that has served the world well, one of valuing universities for their work and supporting them appropriately.

After all, many decades before the foundation of Edinburgh, in 1583, Scotland already had three universities; Denmark had one, Sweden had one, and Norway and Finland had none.

Hugh Pennington, Aberdeen

Should John Swinney do more for Scotland's universities? Picture: Chris Radburn/PA Wire

Missed opportunity

I've lost count of the number of times John Swinney has recited his “unite the party, focus on delivery, social justice, economy, public services, people of Scotland, work with other parties, gain trust, make the case for indy” mantra this past week, giving the impression that the last item, the case for indy, would naturally follow from success in the other eight.

If only Alex Salmond or Nicola Sturgeon had believed and done that on 19 September, or 14 November 2014 when she took over, they could have transformed Scotland to the point where in 2024 we'd either be gagging for separation because we'd pulled miles ahead of the UK, or wanting to remain, because we'd done it within the UK.

Either way the referendum result would not be a disaster for either camp.

But, as has often been said, the nationalists preferred to build a case that relied a lot on grievance and proved unable to run the place well, get on with their rivals, rebuild the already shaky 2014 case, or have any succession plan for talented people when the 2007 generation left the stage.

So now very few people believe a word they say. And no wonder when we now have a retread with no-tread in charge.

Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

All together now?

So, John Swinney, in effect, wants the opposition to assist in his drive for separation (your report, 6 May). Is that so that he can have someone to blame when it all goes terribly wrong?

Bruce Proctor, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

Mainstream?

We are asked to believe that as First Minister of Scotland John Swinney will “return the SNP to governing from the mainstream”.

This from the man who has been instrumental in framing Scottish National Party policy for more than15 years and was at Nicola Sturgeon’s side at all times during her toxic and disastrous tenure as First Minister of Scotland.

This from the man who backed and voted for the Hate Crime Bill and the shocking legislation that was going to be the Gender Reform Bill.

This from the man who will have to cosy up to the most non-mainstream party, the Scottish Greens, as an SNP administration without the Greens’ support is simply not tenable.

It is nothing short of ludicrous to suggest that John Swinney believes in “governing from the mainstream” – and frankly he knows that to be the case.

Richard Allison, Edinburgh

One rule...

Remember John Swinney, Nicola Sturgeon and numerous other SNP MSPs and MPs loudly demanding a general election – we were told “in the interests of democracy” – when Boris Johnson and Liz Truss stood down, since only around 175,000 Tory party members could choose the new prime minister?

Admittedly, Humza Yousaf won by a narrow margin in a mud-slinging contest, though again, only amongst party members. Yet Sturgeon became First Minister without a single vote being cast, not even among SNP members, and it seems the same will happen this week with Swinney.

And why am I not surprised that everyone in the SNP establishment seems wholly comfortable with the Swinney coronation process?

Martin Redfern, Melrose, Roxburghshire

Perhaps, perhaps

Perhaps instead of questioning how independence would lift the aspirations of the people of Scotland, Jill Stephenson (Letters, 6 May) might wish to consider why people “down south” do not appear confident in England becoming an independent country.

Perhaps they do not wish to have nuclear submarines moored next to their most populous city.