Vanity project

It seems that Deputy First ­Minister John Swinney might live up to his promise to “do what’s best for Scotland” and revise his punishing land and buildings transaction tax.

Surely the best thing to do for Scotland would be to align this with the rest of the UK, and to do away with a Revenue Scotland that is also not needed.

Given that Revenue Scotland only has two taxes to manage, it would be sensible to divert the substantial cost of striking up a new (and unnecessary) government department and putting the money into education, the NHS, care, or whatever.

Vanity comes at a cost, and simply diverts money from a more needy cause.

Ken Currie

Liberton Drive

Edinburgh