Sir, As a proud Scot and British citizen my aspirations for my country lapse back to the shores of a forgotten time when Scotlnd was a beacon for education and economics sending talented souls out into the world to establish companies and organise countries.
My only regret is being forced to accept a government which does not fulfil the promises made in order to buy votes, denies the people democracy and did not attract the majority vote from the electorate. Recently a lot of Scots, along with the country’s established churches, expressed their objections to gay marriage yet the SNP ignored them all and introduced legislation. Where were all the consultation documents published? Similarly with legislation on tobacco or alcohol, where are the results of consultation published?
What has happened to our education standards and the reduction in class sizes?
Where are the additional police or are we to have fewer bobbies and more guns on our streets? Where is our fair justice system which punishes criminals and considers the rights of victims and their families? What happened to money for working mothers, childcare, and whatever has become of our health service?
The nationalist government was not the choice of the majority of Scotland and the majority defeated the SNP when they rejected the only policy they could ever claim as their own.
Without a principle the nationals have turned to left wing socialism in order to compete with Labour, but in doing so have forgotten their responsibilities to govern the country and provide for the welfare of the electorate even if the majority neither want nor believe in them.
Alan Bell. Roods, Kirriemuir.
Just a tax on achievement
Sir, The ever-gaping maw of the EU is again intent on swallowing more hard-earned taxpayers’ monies from Britain, ostensibly to plug shortfalls by other states, including Germany and France.
This from a disjointed and disorientated cabal of unelected politicians, a bit like an old boys’ club, who appear to view any successful economy as rich for pickings. In effect it is a barely disguised tax on achievement.
Let us remember that this inner sanctum of the EU came to its decision without any warnings or consultations with other states including Britain a shady backroom done deal. Remember, this from an organisation which for 19 years has been unable to clear audited books for its finances.
Just think of the penalties any other business would have imposed if they could not produce audited accounts. Indeed had the “lost billions” been found or uncovered there would have been no feasible need for any so-called surcharges.
There has been no victory over the EU despite claims by the Prime Minister and his Chancellor of gaining a reduction of £850 million. Not a penny should be paid have they forgotten we’re being sub-jected to a period of austerity?
Can there be a more overwhelming example of why we should, without delay, head for the exit from the EU and regain our sovereignty and the control of our own destiny. Politicians beware, elections are looming!
David L Thomson. 24 Laurence Park, Kinglassie.
Deal needed for stability
Sir, I was amazed to read Cllr MacLauchlan’s non-denial denial (letters, November 20). The point is the minority SNP administration is in power thanks to a deal with local Tories. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with a confidence and supply arrangement to ensure a stable administration.
What would be dodgy is a suggestion that the SNP don’t do deals with the Tories. They have done and doubtless will do in the future. The SNP get to decide convenerships in Perth and Kinross Council because of their understanding with the Tories.
The brutal truth is that no group has the numbers and talent to fill adequately the various convenerships/vice convenerships on their own. Given the apparent impossibility of a coalition the current arrangement is understandable.
The SNP might have with some merit decided to allow a non-administration councillor a quasi-judicial convenership say, development management or licensing. Now that would have been altruistic!
George Hayton. 6 Montgomery Way, Kinross.
Too many at Holyrood?
Sir, The Westminster Parliament has existed quite successfully for many years with a complement of 650 members. So, on average, each member looks after the interest of just over 100,000 members of the public. In our somewhat younger parliament in Scotland there are 129 members. On average each looks after the interest of 41,800 members of the public.
Are Scots much more demanding in our parliamentary needs, or are our politicians considerably less able? Perhaps we simply have too many politicians in our Scottish Parliament?
On a like for like basis between Westminster and Holyrood there would be 53 members at Holyrood.
A A Bullions. 6 Glencairn Crescent, Leven.
Basic human decency
Sir, Derek Farmer’s suggestion that “moral codes” need to be taught is derisory. The vast bulk of the populace at large doesn’t preach sexism, racism, xenophopia, homophobia, sectarianism and all the other poisons engendered by religious or other indoctrination. Why?
Because they’re basically human and decent, that’s all.
Grahame Miller. 53 Millgate, Friockheim.