Sir, – I thank Mr Allan of Sauchie (April 30) for appreciating and remembering the pivotal role the Labour Party had in founding the welfare state and the National Health Service.
People have short memories and I am unsure how many of these facts are known by today’s younger generation.
However, I cannot agree with his opinion that all successive United Kingdom governments have destroyed theseservices out of allrecognition to what their founders envisaged in the 1940s.
It is society itself that has grown out of allrecognition to thatenvisaged by thosegreat founders such as Attlee, Beveridge and Bevan.
The welfare state grew out of the principle that welfare had to be earned, based on a contributory scheme.
The National Health Service was founded on the belief that aspeople grew healthier, the demands on theservice would diminish and there was also no European Uniondominating the sovereign law of the UK.
It is all that and much more that has grown out of all recognition in a small island of ever-expanding population.
We now have a welfare system based on need, not contribution and acontinually baying public baring its teeth.
Any government,executive, or assembly or whatever one wishes to call government these days of whatever political hue or colour, has to face up to these facts.
But that is not easy when some sections of the media whip upill-informed citizen frenzy with slogans and one-liners.
There never seems to be the opportunity on television or radio to have grown up, mature, insightful, non-partisan debate about matters critical to us all and, until that happens, everything is reduced to attack and defend, defend and attack.
Joan McEwen. King James VI Building, Hospital Street, Perth.
Porters’ strike support group
Sir, – Porters at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, are on strike over wages andconditions.
The dispute is now in its eighth week.
Perhaps there is a lack of urgency to resolve the dispute by some politicians because of the general election.
Some of us have medical conditions which require us to attend Ninewells regularly and some of us have required emergency treatment.
None of us wish the staff, all of the staff, of Ninewells, anything but good.
But regardless of the outcome of the election, as a matter of basic human solidarity, we have to stand with the Ninewells porters.
Perhaps a satisfactory resolution will be found soon. But we can’t assume that.
Therefore, we arecalling for the establishment of a Ninewells porters’ support group.
Some of us have spoken with porters on the picket at Ninewells and they welcome this idea.
The group will include some members of the UNITE union but will not be under the control of the union.
It will be controlled by members of the public, including folk who, like us, are sometimes patients at Ninewells, and will work directly with the porters. We can be contacted at aduncan@btinternet.com.
Janet Addis, Connor Beaton, Dave Coull, Ronnie Swinton. c/o 13 Strang Street, Forfar.
An affront to democracy
Sir, – I find myselfsaddened by the desire of a significant proportion of voters to prostitute their votes by using them tactically.
This is an unacceptable attack on the principles of democracy itself and a sordid attempt to overturn what would be the true result of theelection based on the wishes of people voting in support of thecandidate they actually believe in.
I am aware that a significant campaign exists in two seats in this area encouraging such undemocratic behaviour with a view to stopping the SNP.
I read a newspaper article profiling a family who were leaders of this campaign.
They were described as having sold their home in England beforemoving to the north of Scotland and putting their children intoprivate school.
They are of course very welcome in Scotland but I would be interested to know if their anti-Scottish National Party bias was based on theirconcern for the poor and needy in our society or rather the inconvenience independence might impose on their highland idyll.
John Munro. 14 Newmiln Road, Perth.
I’m standingup for Scotland
Sir, – Separatists continue to believe that people who question SNP policies and actions are anti-Scottish and “running down Scotland”.
A recent example of this is the letter (May 2) from Mr Auchterlonie.
Well, I would argue that I and 2,001,925 Scottish voters put our country first last September by electing to retain the union with the rest of the UK, to the benefit of Scotland and the detriment of selfish power -seeking nationalists.
In this election I will be backing Scotland again by saying no thanks to policies driven by the need to avenge political defeats of the past.
Ian McCormick. 4 Kingarth Drive, Rosemount, Blairgowrie.
Vote to save United Kingdom
Sir, – If ever there was a time for those who voted no in the referendum to put country before party, then this is that time.
Voters must not allow a divided unionist vote to clear the way for the SNP to win many seats and break up the UK.
By voting for the candidate with the best chance of defeating the SNP, the current poll indications can be averted. This is nowhere more important than in Gordon where voters, who overwhelmingly voted no last September, have the chance to defeat Alex Salmond.
I have been a Conservative voter for 58 years but will be voting Labour as theirs is the only candidate in my constituency with the prospect ofseeing off the SNP.
Donald Lewis. Pine Cottage, Beech Hill, Gifford.
We’ll pay forend to austerity
Sir, – The last leaders’ debate was about whether or not to spend money the country does not have. National debt stands at £1.5 trillion.
Governments do not have money, they get it from the taxpayer or from borrowing.
Do those who vote for an end to “austerity” realise that they will have to pay for that themselves?
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
SNP has harmed education
Sir, – As the kind of dyed-in-the-wool old unionist Nicola Sturgeon is unlikely to convert and will have to live with, let me assure her there are many parts of her general policy I support.
For all the rhetoric, the SNP governs with a pragmatism unhindered by ideological baggage, which is clearly attractive to the Scottish right which is mainly One Nation Tory.
I think Trident is idiotic, that Western interference in the Islamic Crescent has been counter-productive and military spending should be targeted to forces we may actually use.
Ring-fencing the NHS was a mistake resulting in England increasing spending by 6% in real terms over the last five years compared to the SNP’s 1% for almost identical outcomes.
State school problems will not be solved by throwing money at them and the SNP rightly reduced spending by 5% in real terms whileEngland’s rose with no difference in results.
However, SNP centralisation makes me uneasy and I am pretty sure devo-max is a poisoned chalice, so the FirstMinster should keep a tight grip on the Barnett Formula.
Finally, the abolition of tuition fees has damaged tertiary education as well as totally failing to improve poor Scots’ access and she should reconsider her stance on shale versus windmills.
Dr John Cameron, 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Labour silence on bonuses
Sir, – The Labour Party is making much about the abolition of zero hours contracts, a bad practice which should be banned.
But they are making no effort or declarationconcerning bankers’ bonuses being banned.
This too is an evil and a blot on good employment practices, as those outwith the board room, who have worked to improve a company’s performance, receive only their salary.
However, Labour does say that they will tax bankers’ bonuses, although it is not only bankers but the chief executives of companies who are being awarded these excessive performance-related bonuses.
The difficulty is, since the cash in the bonus awards is limited, with the bulk being in shares, how do you apply a tax take on shares?
Brian Rattray. 124/2 Gylemuir Road Corstorphine, Edinburgh.
Disgraceful spectacle
Sir, – Having viewed the Scottish leaders’ debate on Sunday, I must say I have neverwitnessed such a rabble and lack of courtesy between speakers.
Sadly, this is the group who will be involved, directly or indirectly, in running our country.
I have heard moredisciplined discussions in a class of primary school children.
John McDonald. 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.
Air terror risk unnecessary
Sir, – I was astounded to learn that Edinburgh Airport intends to include securityscanning equipment in a public auction of itssurplus assets.
While this equipment may no longer be in use at Edinburgh Airport, what about the manyairports throughout the world which do still use it?
Potential terrorists will now be free to buy some to experiment with in order to devise ways to circumvent its effective operation.
This does seemirresponsible.
John Eoin Douglas. 7 Spey Terrace, Edinburgh.
Rise of lawless generation
Sir, – Are mostordinary people just born criminals?
Drivers use mobiles, smoke and break every speed limit.
Smokers believe if they ignore no-smoking signs, no one will try to enforce the law.
When the above are challenged, they fly into a rage and threatenviolence.
Tom Black. 83 Lawside Road, Dundee.