SO Derek Mackay, the Scottish Finance Secretary, has seen the light (courtesy of lots of potentially lost votes) and has acted positively on the business rates fiasco (“Mackay bows to rates hike fears with £45m package”, The Herald, February 22). This is to be welcomed. He has, however, missed the other very unfair similar SNP tax rise, that of Council Tax for only bands E, F, G and H. In the interests of fairness he should be having a look at lessening the increases he has imposed there too. That would be a reasonable balancing action. However, the SNP may want to stick with their current policy of only taxing those who don't vote for it.

Dr Gerald Edwards,

Broom Road, Glasgow.

THIS week’s rates volte-face by the SNP, when confronted with a potentially embarrassing rebellion against stinging rises, reminded me OF George Orwell and a quote from his book The Road to Wigan Pier: “This is the inevitable fate of the sentimentalist. All his opinions change into their opposite at the first brush of reality.”

The SNP may want to raise taxes and soak the rich but the reality and evidence is the English Border looks very attractive to those in their sights. The fact is the SNP cannot execute its chosen tax policy.

Andrew Lapping,

Hamilton Capital Partners,

Beacon Building, Glasgow.