Sir, The forthcoming general election for Scotland is as important in many ways as the referendum was. We can be sure that the Yes voters will turn out in numbers to vote for the SNP.
This they will do, not because of the policies or abilities of the SNP, but rather to pursue the ideological dream that is the raison d’etre of the SNP which is total home rule for Scotland and the break-up of the United Kingdom.
With our current electoral system of first past the post, it is essential that those who voted No vote en masse for whichever candidate can mount the strongest challenge, regardless of party, to the SNP candidate.
Not to do so will mean that the No voters’ votes will be split between a number of parties and while the SNP may not gain the majority of the votes they will emerge as the single party with the most votes and win largely by default. A large number of SNP MPs at Westminster with only one agenda is the worst thing that could happen to the UK and to Scotland. The prospect of them wheedling extra powers and concessions on Trident from a Labour Government doesn’t bear thinking about for those who voted No.
Nowhere is this tactic more important than in the constituency of Gordon where Alex Salmond is seeking to take the seat from the Liberals. In the unlikely event of the other parties, who have no chance of winning and who will only dissipate the anti-Salmond vote, standing aside and making it a two-horse race between Mr Salmond and the Liberal candidate, Christine Jardine, I would urge the people of Gordon who voted well over 60% for a No vote to unite in numbers behind Christine Jardine and deny Alex Salmond the oxygen of publicity at Westminster.
Donald Lewis. Gifford, East Lothian.
Even more pollution
Sir, I write to express my concern that Dundee councillors may soon vote for a 20mph speed limit being imposed on many roads in Dundee.
First of all, 20mph is appropriate outside schools and other high-risk areas, but my plea would be that 25mph would be the best option for a general limit. (Why does the limit have to end in a zero?)
On the continent the 40kph limit is just that, a very useful 25mph.
At a constant 20mph many cars will be have to be driven in second gear causing more pollution something the centre of Dundee is already suffering from and over the limit with.
I have heard that an act of parliament would be necessary to allow 25mph limits. Well, then, let’s have an act of parliament! For all of us, it would be worth waiting for.
R Brodie. 1 Duff Street, Dundee.
Sour description of conference
Sir, As someone who attended the Scottish Conservative Party conference last week, I did not recognise your political editor, Kieran Andrews’ sour description of it as “pale, male and stale”. He seems unable to acknowledge the transformation both symbolic and practical Ruth Davidson is effecting in the party.
The conference replayed her recent election broadcast. It showed Conservative values of work, education and family as not only entirely consistent with being a young professional, independent and extremely successful woman who is gay, but as the secret behind her success.
Attractive and with a genuine sense of humour, like Ms Davidson herself, the broadcast did not trumpet its radical credentials unlike Ms Sturgeon and her 50% female cabinet.
Mr Andrews completely ignored the broadcast in favour of a cheap jibe, however inaccurate. The Scottish Conservatives are fielding five strong female candidates, as well as a couple from ethnic minorities and one with a serious disability. Everybody wants more diverse candidates to put themselves forward for selection, and they are, but as the other parties know, it’s a long, slow process, partic-ularly if you are starting from where the Tories are in Scotland.
The SNP may have more female candidates standing for election at Westminster, but it still contains plenty of the pale, male, and stale, who wield the real power in the party. Does the same hold true for the cadre of Scottish political editors to which Mr Andrews belongs?
Linda Holt. Dreel House, Pittenweem, Anstruther.
Original site was wrong place
Sir, At last, someone talking sense about Dundee Airport, and “parochial” is the right word to describe the attitudes of Dundee Councillors regarding “their airport”.
It was always going to be a problem ever since it was decided to site it at Riverside Drive, where there was never going to be space to expand, rather than midway between Dundee and Perth, which would have been more suitable. But, no, Dundee Councillors wanted it right on their doorstep (despite the site being unsuitable).
Even all the cash being poured into this facility by the taxpayers (most of whom will never use it) will never make it viable. Surely it is time to call a halt and use this money for something which will benefit the taxpayers?
Margaret McKay. Angus.
Dundee needs an airport
Sir, It is no surprise that a waterfront developer is keen to get shot of Dundee Airport. Tim Allan would be waiting with his chequebook to eagerly snap up the prime waterfront land and make an ugly eyesore of more unwanted flats, affordable to a minority of people with deep pockets.
Of course Dundee needs an airport, and as a well-travelled person I can honestly say Dundee Airport is one of the most pleasurable and accessible airports in the world. With the V&A on its way, Dundee’s airport will receive a major passenger boost.
What is clear is that an airline such as Easyjet or Ryanair needs to be coaxed into providing a route to London and beyond, offering fares that compete with the train and Edinburgh air fares.
I used Dundee Airport when Business Air flew from Manchester to Dundee and every other route since and the hugely expensive fares are prohibitive to many people and it is no wonder that so many routes fail.
Take Flybe for example, they are supposed to be a low-cost airline but charge extortionate fares all over Scotland, not just Dundee. It’s not rocket science, introduce low fares to popular destinations, market them aggressively and success will follow.
Edinburgh airport is congested and it is a nightmare to navigate security with often very long queues. Getting there from Dundee is hardly convenient. Why would anyone on Tayside want to struggle with Edinburgh when Dundee Airport is on their doorstep only minutes from the centre of town?
Many smaller towns, let alone cities have successful airports and Dundee’s airport should be booming. Let’s get the right marketing team in place and use whatever incentives it takes to get Easyjet or Ryanair interested and wave goodbye to greedy airlines who charge more than the cost of a flight to the USA to get to London!
Will someone at Dundee Council and HIAL please get together and make this work!
Finally, if you have never had the pleasure of taking off or landing at Riverside it is a wonderful experience.
The first time I flew over the Sidlaws and saw my home in Ardler from the sky was just amazing!
Jeff Duncan. Dundee.
Done nothing wrong . . . ?
Sir, I was absolutely disgusted to read that Malcolm Rifkind can’t live on £67,000 a year. It beggars belief.
I am very glad that he has done the only acceptable thing and resigned an interesting action for someone who claims to have done nothing wrong.
I don’t feel that his resignation is enough, however. To prevent this from happening again he should be barred from any access to any politician so that he can’t profit from contacts in the future.
This kind of behaviour shows just how out of touch with the electorate many politicians are. We are not all in this together, David Cameron.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.