Sir, – In his column Alex Bell claims that Nicola Sturgeon performs more like a follower than a leader, noting that she is not Angela Merkel (A leader who doesn’t lead, Speaking Personally, Courier, April 30).
Very true.
Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of Germany and on a par with the UK prime minister.
Nicola Sturgeon is first minister of Scotland and on a par with the minister-presidents of the devolved German länder.
Incidentally, they take the lead for Covid-19 responses from the government in Berlin and implement them as they see fit.
Yet no minister-president “leads” as if the government in Berlin and the other federal states don’t exist.
They rather follow the guidance from Berlin and make regional adjustments.
In my view, Nicola Sturgeon is doing exactly that: for once acting as the head of a devolved administration, working constructively with central government and responding to the situation in Scotland – ICU capacity, financial support schemes etcetera – without constantly trying to “other” Scotland from the rest of the UK.
This does not seem to suit those who find it diffcult to live without the pre-corona constitutional tit for tat.
Yet in the face of the pandemic old narratives appear somewhat stale.
What matters now is the joint effort to bring Covid-19 under control.
The rest can be left for another day.
Regina Erich.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Aberdeenshire.
Strong support for SNP in polls
Sir, – Some interesting polls out over the weekend not covered in many British press outlets ( I wonder why).
One revealed that 70% of people in the UK trust the Scottish Government and ministers more than the Westminster Government over Covid-19 where the poll revealed a 54% trust rating.
It also revealed that 54% would vote SNP at the Scottish election and 51% in a Westminster election if they were to take place now.
This must be very bad news for the Tory and Labour parties and supporters who can only snipe from the wings and trot out their only policy of no to Indyref2.
Bryan Auchterlonie.
Bluebell Cottage,
Perth.
Billions to fight the pandemic
Sir, – The human cost of Covid-19 has been unimaginable.
I understand Scotland has had in the region of £3.4 billion, and rising daily, of support during the coronavirus pandemic.
If Scotland had achieved independence in 2014, where would Nicola Sturgeon, or whomever had been first minister, have turned to for finance at this level to enable Scotland to fight the virus?
Douglas Cowe.
68 Alexander Avenue,
Kingseat.
Legal to drive to exercise locally
Sir, – Further to your article on April 30, I can confirm there is indeed confusion over whether or not you can drive to the countryside for daily exercise.
A couple of weeks ago I saw in two Scottish papers that you could take your car and go for a walk providing the exercise was longer than the drive.
My husband and I drove to woods in Fife about 15 minutes from where we live and walked for over an hour and in that time met no-one.
On returning to our car we were met by the police who were checking where the four cars in the car park were from.
The policewoman confirmed that our actions were lawful as we lived locally.
We need clarification on this matter.
Pamela Hebden.
Mill House,
Pittencrieff Farm Steading,
Cupar.
Why are so few in ICU beds?
Sir, – I wondered why so few ICU beds are being used during this virus pandemic.
According to some statistics about 100 are in use in Scotland, of around 700 available.
Why are so many of our people dying when perhaps the ICU wards could help them?
It’s a bit confusing.
On April 6 there were 222 in use, now it is 110, but during that time there has been over 1,000 deaths.
Robert Thomson.
27 Rennell Road,
Dundee.
Dancing a merry tune in Lochee
Sir, – I was very sad to read about the death of Dundee dance stalwart Betty Barty.
It brought back memories of dance classes I took at the Star Ballroom in Lochee with my now wife Norma.
There were two classes ongoing at the same time in the same hall.
So Bob would be teaching us a cha cha cha whilst Betty was teaching others a waltz.
Of course it required two different types of music so when we started, Bob would nip over to the record player and put on appropriate music for a cha cha cha.
We would do the lesson for a few minutes and then Betty would start with her waltz class and she would change the music on the record player to suit her dance.
Of course that music didn’t suit a cha cha cha so after another few minutes Bob would change the music again. And so it went on.
And to cap it all, Bob had suffered a broken leg and was in plaster hobbling around.
Great times though and a good laugh. As someone once said, You couldnae make it up.
Peter Henry.
6 Horse Gage Place,
Inchture.
