Salmond’s castle

Your revelation that our First Minister is to take up residence in the castellated Governor’s House next to St Andrew’s House shows how the trappings of statehood are coming ahead of independence, and before costs have been calculated and spelt out for the public.

Or could it be that Alex Salmond is tired of buses passing in front of Bute House because the capital’s tram lines need to be repaired even before any tram has moved along Princes Street?

The Scotsman (10 October) now informs us of safety issues arising over faults found on the Scottish Parliament roof – a building opened only seven years ago at overblown cost. Is it not time Scots regained that capacity for engineering and construction and making things work instead of simply talking about processes of government?

Jim Craigen

Downie Grove

Edinburgh