Readers' letters: We've heard quite enough from Nicola Sturgeon

Her legacy is one of profligate spending which now renders Scotland’s budget unsustainable, in addition to wrecking our school system and standards and producing governance by sleight of hand carried out in ways that are anything but transparent. Ms Sturgeon claims to want to defend women’s interests, dignity and safety, yet she persists in supporting pro-trans policies which damage women, their opportunities and their welfare, having allowed these to seep into virtually every corner of Scottish society.

Why would any thinking person want Ms Sturgeon, whose influence remains visible over the current administration, to have further input into political discourse or policy? And how would she expect to continue to impose her baleful influence over us when she is retreating from electoral politics?

Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh

Never nuclear

There should never be any more nuclear power stations – not just because there is no need for them but because the toxic waste produced during their lifetime and afterwards continues its serious damage for thousands of years. There is no assured storage system that has any guarantee into more than, perhaps, the immediate future. Changes in geology/climate/ocean currents/hydrology and other less understood phenomena could alter things quickly, with disastrous consequences.

During the lifetime of nuclear power stations they constantly leak radioactive material into air and water. The predecessor of Sellafield (Windscale – a name cancelled because of its notoriety) was linked to serious birth defects. The mouldering hulks of nuclear submarines lie temporarily in sealed pens at Rosyth. Who knows how much leakage there is into the water, and whether rising ocean levels may cause worse? Constant checks are required.

Scotland has numerous safe, clean resources for electricity: as well as solar and wind power there is tidal power round a very large coast. Unlike sun or wind the tides always flow. There are several pumped storage hydro station like Cruachan (no need for batteries) These should run all the time not for five or ten minutes a day when the electricity robber barons can make more money from it.

Electricity should be a part of national infrastructure; beneficial to the community where it is produced; as green and clean as it can be; and cause no harm to the planet which is the only one we have. So no nuclear, of any sort, ever again. We have had the warnings.

Susan FG Forde, Scotlandwell, Perth and Kinross

Check on power

Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” saw the introduction of 10 per cent “reciprocal tariffs” worldwide under Section 301 of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

This led to a destabilising series of formal tariff hikes, pauses, deadline extensions, and explicit threats to raise tariffs further. ​

Trade watchers estimate the EU faced six big changes throughout 2025 and the UK, with our very special relationship, only five! Meanwhile, Trump has siphoned off an estimated $200 billion for his coffers.

The damage to business due to the associated costs, risks and uncertainties cannot be underestimated – and the full extent of this has yet to unfold.

In a landmark ruling issued on Friday, US Supreme Court judges found six to three that the US President had exceeded his power by introducing “reciprocal tariffs”.

This outcome was not unexpected in Washington. Trump’s petulant response to the ruling was equally predictable.

There was no ruling from the judges, however, on tariff reparations or repayments, and more lawsuits from angry importers to the US are now expected. All this adds significantly to the uncertainty business already faces.

Trump will no doubt resist any repayment and has moved immediately to re-introduce 15 per cent tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974.

This legislation gives him the power to act for a limited period of 150 days, after which he will require congressional approval for any extension.

Albeit belatedly, the Supreme Court is bringing checks and balances to bear on this President – demonstrating the separation of powers under the US Constitution retains some validity, even in this era of MAGA politics.

Ewen Peters, Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire

Double standards?

In a TV broadcast the other evening, the SNP accused the UK government of frittering away oil revenue money over many years.

Now Audit Scotland is investigating whether the SNP government has frittered away money from offshore wind farm projects (your report, 21 February). Looks like it could be a case of double standards from the SNP.

William Ballantine, Bo’ness, West Lothian

Respect is earned

Shona Morrison, head of Cosla Scotland seems to believe that local authority officials deserve more respect. She needs to understand that respect has to be earned, not demanded.

In my most recent correspondence with local authority officials, my questions were ignored, points I raised went unanswered, other questions were “misunderstood” so that the answers were nonsense, and lies from “expert consultants” were used to refute my arguments.

From conversation with others it appears my experience is far from unusual. Of course local authority officials should be treated with respect, but Cosla needs to put its own house in order before criticising taxpayers.

Graham M McLeod, Kinross

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