Sir, – Boris Johnson’s comment that devolution has been “a disaster north of the border” and “Tony Blair’s worst mistake” should hardly come as a surprise (First minister hits out over report PM called devolution a ‘disaster,’ Courier, November 17).
The Tories have never been great supporters of devolution, opposing both the referendums in 1979 on establishing a Scottish Assembly and in 1997 on the Scottish Parliament.
Most recently the devolution power grab that is highlighted in the Internal Market Bill simply reinforces this stance.
The Scottish Social Attitudes survey (2019) on constitutional preference found only seven per cent favour abolition of the Scottish Parliament and trust in the Scottish Government sits at four times that of the UK.
Hardly a disaster. For those accused of scaremongering that there is a threat to Holyrood, Mr Johnson’s comments are vindication.
The irony of all this is that devolution has given new life to the Scottish Conservatives after its wipe out in 1997 and it is now the opposition in the Scottish Parliament.
Be under no doubt, the Scottish Parliament is under threat and we must do all in our power to defend it.
Alex Orr.
Marchmont Road,
Edinburgh.
Nothing remotely ‘anti-trans’ in group
Sir, – The article “Perthshire headteachers told to bin ‘harmful’ DVDs from Creationist organisation”, Courier, November 16) contained inaccurate and misleading claims about my organisation, Transgender Trend.
In the report reference was made to posters which have appeared around Blairgowrie and in the accompanying photograph our website address was prominent.
A Perthshire pride spokesperson was quoted saying the posters were “anti-trans”. The report also described the posters as containing links to “anti-trans-websites”. No evidence was offered for these claims.
Transgender Trend is an organisation set up by parents and professionals who are concerned about the medical transition of children, the teaching of ‘gender identity’ in schools and the idea that it is possible to be born in the wrong body. Information on our website is always factual and evidence-based.
I was shortlisted for the John Maddox Prize 2018 for my guide Supporting Gender Diverse and Trans-identified Students in Schools. It was described as the most legally compliant schools guide by the Times Educational Supplement. I’d urge readers to judge for themselves by visiting our website www.transgendertrend.com.
Lobby groups like Perthshire Pride routinely make unfounded allegations against us but parents and teachers will find a wealth of well-sourced and reliable information about transgender issues.
And they won’t come across anything remotely “anti-trans”.
Stephanie Davies-Arai .
Director,
Transgender Trend.
Where there is a will the SNP has a way
Sir, – Andrew Collins states the UK Government must accept the settled will of the Scottish people.
In 2014, I along with the majority of the Scottish people accepted the settled will of the Scottish people in the, ‘once in a generation’, referendum
Why then should we accept the supposed current will of the Scottish people?
This is blatant hypocrisy.
D. Adams.
Kirklands Park,
Cupar.
Warding off threats other than Covid
Sir, – I can’t imagine why Jenny Hjul (Courier, November 18) thinks the Scottish Government has only two big tasks.
Nicola Sturgeon appears to be dealing with Covid-19 and trying to get the country back to full health.
Polling suggests she’s doing both well in very trying circumstances and is streets ahead of any other party leader.
However Ms Hjul forgets the FM and her government also need to concentrate their energies on saving us from the worst excesses of Brexit and Boris’s planned destruction of the Scottish Parliament.
Rob Plumber.
Aberdour Road,
Dunfermline.
