Sir, – In these testing times, it has been all too easy for us to lose focus on the oncoming juggernaut of Brexit.
But, for EU citizens here, the issues which may seem like a long-forgotten nightmare, are more pressing than ever.
As the clock runs down, it is imperative EU citizens make use of the government’s online Settled Status scheme; those who are struggling with using the internet, or indeed in finding the paperwork which proves continuous residence, should also use the support available.
The Citizens’ Advice Bureau along with other local groups, is offering help.
Moreover, we musn’t forget that some of those furloughed, or unemployed, as a result of the present crisis are in a more vulnerable position than most: EU citizens who have not lived here for five years.
Many of these people, working right now in frontline services, will be obliged to pay for treatment, should they contract the virus at work.
We should be sickened by the denial of welfare support to those whose work has been essential to our economy, and who find themselves in need of our collective aid, but have been excluded from the safety net during this sensitive period.
Those in this position, or those who know someone who is, should be aware that foodbanks will help them, regardless of their status.
Referrals can be obtained from the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.
We have all become a little more urgently aware, over the past few weeks, of how totally we rely upon each other
Let us make sure that those EU citizens who have found themselves caught up in two concurrent moments of great uncertainty are not let down.
Dominic McGinley.
Queens Gardens,
Dunfermline.
Community but no proximity
Sir, – We are often told that one of the less agreeable features of our urban society is that we have “proximity without community”.
We tend not to attend to our neighbours’ needs.
But now in these unprecedented times it is the other way round.
We have “community without proximity”.
We must keep our physical distance from one another.
But at the same time we are learning, and fast, that we need our community and that our community needs us.
It’s called neighbourliness.
Donald P. McDonald.
10 Rose Terrace,
Perth.
Cobra bites back at first minister
Sir, – The SNP’s Commons leader, Ian Blackford, was arguably correct to criticise Boris Johnson for missing five Cobra meetings earlier in the year focusing on coronavirus. What therefore is his response to Nicola Sturgeon missing six such meetings in January and February?
Martin Redfern.
Woodcroft Road,
Edinburgh.
Give elderly a break from tax
Sir, – There seems to be no shortage of government money being spent to bolster the economy.
Maybe they will give us old people that rebuilt this country after the war a bit more on our pension – and not a Gordon Brown increase measured in pennies – after the virus disappears.
Who voted our MPs a £10,000 hand out for working at home?
This is a real slap in the face to people living off the old age pension and people on the dole living on the breadline who have to use modern soup kitchens to survive.
Do we really need so many politicians?
In a real democracy everyone should have a say on any new laws or changes proposed by our governments, including their wages.
By voting for the four parties of the establishment we will never see any chnge.
When OAPs ask for a tax break, we are told the country cannot afford it?
Have we not paid enough tax in our lifetimes rebuilding the country and repaying war debts?
John G Phimister.
63 St Clair St,
Kirkcaldy.
Law must treat us all as equals
Sir, – The Scottish Government was considering adding sex to the list of protected characteristics in the terrible proposed hate speech legislation.
But taxpayer-funded feminist groups objected.
They want a law that only prosecutes men who say “hateful” things about women, but not women who say “hateful” things about men.
They seem to either assume that women are somehow incapable of saying “hateful” things about men, or that men’s hurt feelings don’t matter.
The SNP has accepted this principle and is proceeding on that basis.
It’s about as sensible as having a law against men hitting women, while having no law against women hitting men.
These professional campaigners are the same ones always telling us that their feminism is just about treating men and women equally.
Richard Lucas.
Leader of The Scottish Family Party
‘Doddering old fossil’ is veritas
Sir, – Comments about a person’s age could be included in new legislation regarding hate crime.
This might scupper one of my favourite phrases, which I learned from the Beano in the 1950s, “doddering old fossil”. I fear that in my own case, with the passing of almost 70 years since then, any perpetrator might get away with a defence of veritas.
Gordon Cook.
Gowanlea,
Friockheim.
