Right balance

In his first major speech since forming the coalition government, David Cameron talked of the need to "rebalance" the economy away from the economic powerhouses of London and the south-east and to have less reliance on the public sector.

It is intriguing to note his comments, given the fact that London is the most subsidised part of the UK and is hugely reliant on public sector spending. While the Olympic Games, for example, is being presented as a UK-wide project, billions of pounds are being poured into London from the rest of the UK. Mr Cameron's comments also neglect to mention that the bulk of UK government departments are based in London, and that there is a higher level of defence spending and public subsidy for projects in London and the south-east.

It was Scottish oil that went towards constructing the M25, building the Channel Tunnel and extending the London Underground, and in order to "breath economic life" outside the M25, the key is to give Scotland control over her own economic affairs.

ALEX ORR

Bryson Road

Edinburgh