Sir, I refer to Alan Bell’s letter (November 10) concerning proportional representation. While, intellectually, this may seem a good idea (and is an idea long beloved by the Liberal Democrats) the likely reality would be an increase in dysfunctionality and political squabbling at national government level.
There is nothing inherently wrong with a “first past the post” election system at national level so long as the electorate are sufficiently wise to elect individual MPs to properly represent their constituencies instead offollowing the wearisome age-old tradition of party-political voting, irrespective of the qualities and experience of the individual political candidate.
The real benefit of proportional representation should devolve at local level, but what we see in Scotland are continuing moves by the SNP in government, to centralise more and more decision-making in Holyrood, thereby disenfranchising locally elected councils. The old county council governance model worked tolerably well for most regions of Scotland for a very long time.
The worn-out cliche of the nationalists “we don’t get the government we voted for” could better be described as “we don’t get the governance we voted for” at a local level in Scotland. We may yet evolve into a North Korean form of governance as suggested by Mr Bell if the intrusive “we know best” political model of the SNP is allowed to expand.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
These are great opportunities
Sir, It is good news that underground coal gasification (UCG) is to be developed under the River Forth. Wedesperately need to exploit effective, practical means of harvesting vital energy in Scotland, after the near-futile, ongoing, very damaging fiasco of the wind turbines.
Glasgow University Professor Paul Younger’s pioneering UCG methods offer theprospect of using nativeScottish coal assets, without traditional mining, whichrepresent, like fracking fornatural gas, a vast, genuine opportunity for Scotland.
Last night’s STV news also reported worries about the higher costs of electricity supplies to our highlands and islands, in the same bulletin as the UCG story. These topics are linked, since cheaper, local energy sources can only help national and local economies and probably also exports of energy.
The complaints from“environmentalists” about relatively small CO2 releases from burning of our fossil fuels are misleading and grotesquely overplayed and should be ignored, without significant harm to us or the rest of the planet. We have great opportunities here and we should support them!”
(Dr) Charles Wardrop. 111 Viewlands Road West, Perth.
Disgraceful comments
Sir, I was shocked atGordon McQueen’s disgraceful comments in The Courier about James McCarthy and Aiden McGeady who, although born in Scotland, have chosen to play football for the Republic of Ireland. He seems to suggest that they are “traitors” and hopes “they get a horrible reception (when they play against Scotland) because they deserve it”.
First of all, this is a game of football; a sporting contest. Secondly, these young men were brought up in an Irish family background and according to the rules of football, they are perfectly entitled to choose to play for the country of their family.
Scotland have not been slow to seek out players born elsewhere to play for them on the basis of family lineage. One notable example, not so long ago, being Matt Elliott, who played 18 times for Scotland on the basis of his Scottish grandmother. He was born in London, had never been to Scotland and, according to reports at the time, was about as Scottish as the Tower of London.
There is enough emotion around football, withoutformer players who should know better, spouting such inflammatory drivel.
Les Mackay. 5 Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.
Appalled by this attack
Sir, I was absolutely appalled to read about the senseless attack on a veteran by a group of Asian youths. Recovering from heartsurgery, he was on his way to a remembrance service in Keighley when he was stripped of his beret, poppy and lost his medals in the attack, before the cowards ran off laughing.
It is a sickening act of disrespect that needs to be severely punished in the courts to reflect society’s anger at this matter and also to act as a deterrent. Imagine the furore if it had been white youths knocking the turban off an elderly Sikh gentleman/ veteran? It would have made headlines in national papers.
This country is far too tolerant with a soft soap criminal justice system. Would this have happened if there had been an automatic jailsentence for disrespect ofveterans? I don’t think so.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
Bring traditional TV show back
Sir, I wonder if it might be possible for the BBC to include a traditional Scottish-flavoured programme at Hogmanay to welcome in the New Year? Over the last few years we have had nothing like it.
I know we don’t have the same calibre of stars like Rikki Fulton, Andy Stewart, Sir Jimmy Shand and Ian Powrie, (forgive me for not mentioning them all) but surely Andy Cameron, “Rab C Nesbitt”, Fred MacAulay, or Bill Paterson would make ideal hosts?
Perhaps Phil Cunningham could be persuaded to lead something we can allrecognise and enjoy as welook forward to 2015?
Tom Handy. 11 Cameron Place, Crieff.