Socialist-free SNP

THE naivete of people like David Flett never ceases to amaze me. He writes (Letters, 7 September) that “Despite their socialist policies, the SNP… are the only party offering a realistic escape route from London imperialism”.

The SNP aren’t a socialist party and nor are they anti-imperialist. And to be fair to Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, they have never claimed to be.

And no wonder. Just this week for example, they outlined plans to devolve corporation tax powers to Scotland – a thoroughly sensible idea, too – but at half the level paid by businesses in “imperialist London”.

That’s not a socialist policy, that’s the same neo-liberalism inherent in the rest of the SNP manifesto.

And since we are on the subject of “imperialism”, it is worth reminding Mr Flett that the SNP’s credentials here are no better as it continues to support Britain’s ongoing and unpopular imperialist occupation of Afghanistan.

The SNP may be to the left of New Labour, and have adopted the Scottish Socialist Party’s policy on the abolition of National Health Service prescription charges (and I take my hat off to them for that), but that doesn’t make them a socialist party.

Colin Fox

Scottish Socialist Party

Alloway Loan

Edinburgh