Sir, – Whatever the outcome of the inquiry into the post-match pitch invasion at the Scottish Cup final, there should be broad agreement on one point.
This is not the time for the Holyrood parliament to attempt to repeal the football act or the Offensive Behaviour at Football and Threatening Communications (Scotland) Act to give it its full name.
The purpose of this legislation is not to outlaw specific songs or chants, offensive as some of us may find them.
It is to provide a broad framework to deal with the worst aspects of bigotry and intimidation that often rears its head at soccer events throughout the country.
The law’s provisions alone would not have prevented the mass incursion on to the Hampden turf.
It would be wrong, however, to signal with repeal that some of the malicious behaviour we witnessed on our television screens might be considered acceptable.
The scenes after a cup final ought to be of celebration, disappointment for some certainly, but above all they ought to be of civilised behaviour.
Instead, once again, Scotland was made to look uncivilised on the international stage.
It would now be made to look ridiculous if some of our MSPs were to press ahead with trying to get rid of a statute that tries to tackle the problem.
They should think again before the country is caused further embarrassment.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court,
Glenrothes.
Strange notion of democracy
Sir, – Some of your correspondents writing in support of Muirfield’s “democratic” decision have a peculiar definition of the term.
The majority of members voted in favour of admitting women, but the vote was not accepted. Not my understanding of democracy.
Laurie Richards.
100 Crail Road,
Cellardyke.
Male-only view of Muirfield
Sir, – You published four letters on Tuesday that broadly supported the vote by the members of Muirfield Golf Club to continue their policy of excluding women from membership. Unsurprisingly, all four were written by men.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Perth bus frustration
Sir, – I picked up the new local bus timetable for Perth and was dismayed to find changes to the afternoon service on routes 10 and 10a.
On weekdays, in term time, there are no number 10 buses between 14.50 and 16.45 from Kinnoull Street, a gap of almost two hours, and only one 10a at 16.25.
There is a similar gap going into town.
The people on these routes are being disadvantaged.
I understand the need for buses on the school route at these times but could they not be taken from routes with a more frequent service
I hope those who are affected will make their displeasure known.
Fiona Hannah.
71 Burghmuir Road,
Perth.
Unionists are running scared
Sir, – Your letters pages on Tuesday included pieces by various correspondents using the Muirfield situation and democracy as a cover for having a go at the SNP in general, and the First Minister in particular.
Alastair Stewart of Broughty Ferry even sang the praises of columnist Jenny Hjul who for the last 18 months at least has devoted her energies to indulging in a personal vendetta against the nationalists and their leader, who I suspect, doesn’t give a hang about those views anyway.
Donald Lewis’s idea of democracy is indeed a strange one as he appears to suggest that once a vote has been taken on an issue, the outcome should be regarded as final and the losers should have the decency not to press for another vote.
If this is to be regarded as standard, the government elected at the first election should remain in power but thankfully this does not happen as governments are obliged to submit themselves for re-election from time to time.
As Alex Orr correctly points out, the SNP did include a commitment to a second referendum in its manifesto and strange as it may appear to Conservative and Unionist voters, the public democratically returned it to govern the country.
To the contributor who suggested that the SNP has no respect for the democratic process, I would point out that the result of a vote is only relevant at the time the vote is taken.
However, if, as the majority of unionist correspondents suggest, the people of Scotland will always reject independence, there should be nothing for them to worry about, but the fact that they keep thrusting the issue on to the letters pages suggests that beneath all the bravado lurks a serious cause for concern.
Allan MacDougall.
37 Forth Park,
Bridge of Allan.
An insult to our intelligence
Sir, – I was astonished at Nicola Sturgeon when she said that scaremongering needs to stop, particularly by the Remain campaign.
This comes from a leader who is threatening a second referendum on independence if the EU referendum vote does not go her way.
She is wielding the threat of an unwanted and divisive second independence referendum like a weapon over the heads of Scottish voters in the hope that they will vote Remain.
If that is not scaremongering I do not know what is.
It is also laughable when she claims that the scaremongering for the Remain campaign is insulting people’s intelligence.
I am reminded of the independence campaign when the Yes campaign insulted our intelligence with economic fantasy but thank goodness the Scottish people saw through it.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
Make us proud of Perth again
Sir, – I would like to make suggestions on how to bring vibrancy back to Perth city centre.
First, get rid of Perth and Kinross Council leader Ian Miller and his cronies who have no common sense.
Second, get rid of pedestrianisation in St John Street and allow traffic back.
Third, get rid of Smart Parking which has frightened everyone and bring back parking around the City Hall. Where there are cars there are people.
Please get Perth back on its feet very soon or it will be left a ghost town and forgotten about. I used to be very proud of Perth.
Norma Farquharson.
The Horn.
Errol.
Educational conundrum
Sir, – The educational attainment gap is stated as the primary focus of the Scottish Government and John Swinney has been moved into education to manage a solution.
Many column inches have been given over to opinions on causes and potential fixes with one reader suggesting that synergies between schools and further/higher education may be the answer.
It is extremely frustrating to read the opinions of those who clearly have not the slightest insight into the problems facing our teachers and nursery staff in attempting to raise standards.
A solution cannot be implemented by tackling attainment in the secondary school years, the damage is substantially done pre-school.
Children at age four and five entering primary school already show a substantial gulf in ability between those from better and poorer performing households.
Schools and nurseries only have input into a child’s education for around 30 hours per week so the pre-school gulf continues to widen as parental/carer input varies from virtually nil in some areas to hot-housing in others.
This effect is exacerbated by homework which goes untackled by an unfortunate proportion of children.
It seems to be an unfortunate truth that there will always be an attainment gap of sorts, but a partial solution will only be found when we focus upon tackling the problem early in children’s lives and when detached middle-class thinkers gain an appreciation of the wide spectrum of society which pours into school and nursery gates each weekday morning.
Brian Anderson.
54 Cloanden Place,
Kirkcaldy.