Dubious figures

Tom Peterkin’s article (27 March) regarding Finance Secretary John Swinney’s review of his so-called controversial oil figures re-
enforced in me the need for a parliamentary watchdog in the guise of a Senate, where within an independent government the actions of majority governments can be scrutinised and modified.

However, I did take offence when it was highlighted that Conservative finance spokesman Gavin Brown called them “highly questionable figures”. Surely, Mr Brown must be aware of his own government’s highly dubious 
statistics regarding unemployment during the Thatcher era. The official records estimated three-and-a-half million unemployed.

However, when the books were unjuggled the facts represented nearly eight million. But Tories tend to stick their heads in the sand when cross-
examined about their own highly questionable actions, in regards to benefits, employment and tax evasion.

Whatever Mr Swinney produces through his revision, there is one clear fact to consider: the debate about independence will never go away, so surely rather than waiting for the oil to run out, we as a nation should grasp it with both hands and run with it.

Moreover, it is certain that if we had no oil revenue to fill the coffers of the Bank of England, independence would be handed to us on a plate from a Westminster government who only have the interests of London and the south of England at heart.

From this concept we must also cultivate what the response from the Tories will be if we fail to take hold of our own destiny. Thatcher devastated Scottish industry as a punishment; will Cameron put the nail in the coffin?

Michael Donaldson

West Avenue

Plains, Airdrie