Sir, – May I comment on George Murdo’s letter (February 9) which was a response to an earlier, and eminently sensible letter penned by George Sangster that was critical of the idealism professed by Jim Crumley and others relative to Scotland’s landscape and fauna management.
Could Mr Murdo explain what exactly is the benefit in importing and releasing beavers in Scotland?
Beavers are being released into an environment that is very substantially changed from that which they may have inhabited all those years ago.
Why do it?
Is there some pressing ecological reason of which we are unaware? Or is this simply a Brigadoon experiment to satisfy the selfishly ideological views of an obsessed minority of so-called conservationists?
We have seen similarly unjustified experiments to release sea eagles, imported from Norway, to the Fife coast, just because, apparently, sea eagles used to be seen occasionally a few hundred years ago. These experiments take no account of the changed environment and human population densities.
Meanwhile, there is a continuing persecution of those who earn their living from the land, and contribute to Scotland’s economy by so doing, for attempting to control predators that destroy the ground-nesting bird population and much else besides.
On the face of it, it would seem that Mr Murdo and others wish simply to transform the uplands of Scotland into a theme park for urban ramblers, forgetful of the fact that the uplands landscape that they so enjoy would rather quickly turn into an impassable wilderness, bereft of many avian and mammal species if left entirely to Mother Nature.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Pope can take Falklands lead
Sir, – A visit by Pope Francis to St Andrews should be welcomed, giving the authority of his person and office to an anti-extremist de-radicalising declaration, supported by Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama (February 8).
There is, however, another cause which should be close to his heart, which he is the ideal leader to espouse, and which could define his papacy along with his other initiatives. That is the education of his compatriots and co-religionists in the historical, geographical, geological, cultural and theological facts of life regarding the Falkland Islands, a settlement not a colony, despite the flawed claims accepted by those who should know better.
John Birkett. 12 Horseleys Park, St Andrews.
Help more and sneer less
Sir, – Donald Lewis (February 9) claims thorough knowledge of grammar and its application.
It seems he was so busy parsing his sentences that he didn’t learn how to construct a logical argument.
Standards in numeracy are in freefall so Mr Lewis claims; he has two anecdotes to prove it. His assertions about declining levels of literacy are based solely on his personal experiences. He struggles to accept that others have different concepts of what it means to be literate.
Mr Lewis could make a difference to literacy and numeracy levels by sharing his superior knowledge volunteering at an adult literacy group or at his local school. It would be more useful than making sneering and derogatory comments in the letters pages of this paper.
Susan McKenzie. 8 Richmond Terrace, Dundee.
Ruth dodged hard question
Sir, – Jenny Hjul’s latest swipe at the bad old SNP (February 10) centred on John Swinney’s reticence to accept the deal currently on offer from the UK Treasury.
Now why should Mr Swinney hesitate? Could it be that Westminster and the Tories need careful watching?
No? Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, when asked on BBC Sunday Politics if she would accept the current offer, contrived to avoid giving a straight answer. She was asked three times but we are still waiting for an answer in the affirmative.
So why would an SNP Scottish Government accept an offer, which clearly the Tory leader does not truly support.
Duncan A Kennedy. Midfield, Perth Road, Abernethy.
Commendable fiscal prudence
Sir, – The Finance Secretary John Swinney has been criticised by your columnist Jenny Hjul for failing to rush to agreement over the fiscal framework for devolving income tax. Mr Swinney’s caution is understandable.
The Smith Commission’s “no detriment” conditions mean that agreement requires one side to take a hit. Perhaps we should be grateful that this might result in a stalemate.
The commission’s proposals are an incoherent mess that reflect poorly on all parties involved.
They were lashed together in ludicrous haste without due consideration of the risk to the public finances.
Income tax is the most volatile of taxes and the Scottish Government wouldn’t have sufficient control to protect or stimulate the tax base.
It’s not just the SNP who are worried about this mess.
Lord Forsyth, the former Tory Secretary of State for Scotland, thinks the proposals will lead to Scotland having to raise taxes to maintain current spending.
He rightly thinks the lack of public debate is regrettable. Standing on the sidelines and calling Mr Swinney chicken if he fails to sign up to a disastrous deal is simply playground politics.
The implications of the Smith Commission are far reaching and extremely complex.
I doubt if even 1% of the electorate truly understands what these proposals mean. I don’t count myself in that select few and Mr Swinney’s critics in your columns show no sign of being among them either.
James Christie. 2 Dryburgh Crescent, Perth.
England will decide UK fate
Sir, – John Cameron (February 4) denigrated the European Union for evolving into a malign and undemocratic institution, which he describes as states dominated by the views of the leader of one of them.
His description could also be applied to another group of nations under the name of Great Britain where three smaller entities are dominated by a large one, by virtue of a population majority of at least eight to one. The smaller countries only achieve any of their political objectives if they meet with the approval of their dominant neighbour.
The latest exercise in democracy is the Westminster-led move to call an in/out referendum with regard to the UK’s membership of the EU, a project not necessarily supported by the three smaller nations, but one intended to placate the misgivings of dissidents south of the border who are clamouring to end their membership of the European club.
But win or lose, the result will be decided by the overwhelming number of English votes.
Allan MacDougall. 37 Forth Park, Bridge of Allan.
Thatcher was UK’s saviour
Sir, – Margaret Thatcher won power at the end of the sombre 1970s, a decade during which the trade unions had destroyed two prime ministers and driven another into paranoia.
The foreign press branded Britain the sick man of Europe: our inflation rate was three times that of Germany, our unemployment double, our strikes and walk-outs endemic.
In spite of unemployment initially soaring, Mrs Thatcher eventually turned us around and we became a far more open, dynamic, entrepreneurial and colourful society than we had been in the 1970s.
It is a myth that she ended full employment because globalisation meant our heavy industries like shipbuilding and coal-mining were doomed before she took power.
Even if she had never existed, the changes in Scotland she came to represent such as the ending of feather-bedding and the rise of the unemployable were inevitable.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
A time for reflection
Sir, – I understand that Alistair Carmichael is disappointed that he has not been able to recover his legal costs of £150,000.
As a taxpayer can I say that I am also disappointed that the cost of the original inquiry into the leaking of the letter, which I understand was £1.5 million, will also not be recovered. Perhaps Mr Carmichael should reflect on this aspect.
Alfred Small. 8 Claypotts Terrace, Broughty Ferry.