Expansion could leave a way out

Sir,- So the SNP controversially supports massive expansion at Heathrow.

Yet Nicola Sturgeon frequently protests her green credentials – particularly prior to elections.

Notably, she adopted a populist anti-fracking stance at the 2015 general election.

But do her actions match her rhetoric?

Ms Sturgeon’s comfort with fracking is evidenced by US fracked gas being imported into Scotland, without protest.

And we’re told we’ll have to wait until after the SNP conference for the outcome of its investigation into the degree of risk the process entails.

With report after report across the globe deeming fracking safe, no prizes for guessing what the investigation’s findings will be.

The SNP has already laid out plans to cut Air Passenger Duty, freely admitting its intention is to increase air traffic in Scotland, and thereby also increase the fastest source of greenhouse gases.

Now we learn from SNP minister Keith Brown that the Scottish Government endorses a third runway at Heathrow, with a tortuously contrived justification that the resultant increase in long-haul flights from Scotland will be less detrimental to the environment than the current number of shorthaul.

Little wonder Friends of the Earth are outraged.

However, lurking among the nationalists’ various environmentallydamaging initiatives, there’s one hidden plus in their ambitions to increase flights from Scottish airports – more of us can secure a rapid escape route should Ms Sturgeon’s separatist dreams ever become reality. Martin Redfern. Royal Circus, Edinburgh.