Hi Jon, Simple economics caused the demise of the coal and steel industries. My two comments are connected, but only in as much that Margaret Thatchers government recognised the lunacy in trying to keep those industries going while our competitors were free to buy raw materials at the going rate. Other national governments did try to subsidise and protect their heavy industries, they failed and adopted the policies pursued by the UK government to recoup the situation, because they had seen that it could be done. For Margaret Thatchers government to have done anything different would have been equivalent to someone saying, "Why pay £10 for something when I can get it for £25".

Hi there SF, The government of the United Kingdom IS elected by the people of Great Britain - which includes the populations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

As to some of your other points: Did her government reduce the basic rate of taxation for the entire population of Great Britain? Yes Did her government reduce regulation to encourage and promote the growth of new industries? Yes (Job creation) Did her government act in such a way as to encourage foreign investment in this country? Yes (Job creation)

And by all means let us look what has happened since then. Britains economy is one of the healthiest in Europe, our rate of inflation has been consistantly lower than that experienced during the pre-Thatcher years. The level of unemployment in the UK is less than that of most European countries. Are you trying to tell me that all this came to pass post 1997? - Get real.

From what you say, I get the impression that should the people of Scotland get the government you would like to see, they would undertake the following: Re-establish the Scottish Steel and Coal-mining industries as state owned enterprises. Pour millions into redevelopment of the Clyde ship-yards (after all they could use all that steel you are going to produce at a price per ton that no-one in their right minds would pay for. At the same time better make those ships coal fired.) Re-introduce free milk in schools. Enshrine in Scottish Law that anybody who has the temerity to actually start a business and who succeeds in developing it must, under no circumstance, be financially rewarded for it irrespective of how much his endevours benefit his community. Enforce a tax system that incorporates a super tax bracket of say 82% (The Fat Cats of industry and all those rich people will be banging on the door to be let in to pay that - SNP prospective candidate for Scotlands first President Sir Sean Connery found paying 40% too much!! and disappeared into tax exile, where from rigours of advertising Japanese whisky and playing golf, gave his opinions as to why Scotland should vote SNP.)

One thing I have found out during this correspondence - it is very easy to knock something in the light of 20 x 20 hindsight. Another thing that I have noticed is that if you go through the correspondence attached to this thread nowhere will you find any of Mrs T's detractors propose what she could have done differently - even with 20 x 20 hindsight - not surprising neither can Tony Blair and New Labour.