Madam, – Four practitioners from the thousands of NHS staff in Tayside and Fife do not warrant the headline “Pleas for ‘nightmare’ Brexit to be dropped” (Courier, March 1).
Especially when these four get their facts so wrong.
For example, it is false to claim that thousands of EU nationals have left the NHS because of Brexit. In fact the actual figures show that whereas in 2016 there were just over 58,000 EU nationals in the NHS, now there are over 63,000.
Given the inability to get even this basic fact right one can be forgiven for doubting their statement that Brexit is already costing lives.
This is a massive distraction from the deeper problems of the NHS which really is costing lives. The lack of adequate training places, mismanagement, lack of funding and the exodus of staff because of working conditions are far more important.
It is depressing when people use the NHS as a tool to put forward their political ideologies.
It is even more so when that allows politicians and NHS management to excuse their own failings by using the catch all excuse of ‘it’s Brexit’.
David Robertson.
14 Shamrock Street,
Dundee.
Punishment must stay
Madam, – In a rare incident, common sense was spoken in the Scottish Parliament’s Equality and Human Rights Committee (Efforts to ban smacking is ‘tragic’ and ‘depressing’, Courier, March 1.)
Dr Stuart Waiton, an opponent of the proposed smacking ban, was included to represent the views of the majority of the population, alongside the seven supporting the ban.
The committee room was awash with the ubiquitous virtue-signalling hysteria about smacking being abusive, violent and a form of assault, but Dr Waiton was able to inject some perspective.
Children are not as “vulnerable” as suggested. They can need a bit of tough love to keep them on the right track.
How long will it be before Named Persons are reporting parents for sending a “vulnerable” child to their room?
Dr Waiton predicted that any form of punishment could be condemned in the future if children are regarded as so delicate.
This is already happening in schools. The weak and indulgent “restorative approach” is being forced onto schools by Education Scotland.
Under this naive scheme, mini-counselling sessions replace sanctions.
Yes, there are serious disciplinary problems in schools and the government is banning punishments in response.
I have yet to hear a single MSP express the slightest reservation about this.
Of the three Tory MSPs in the committee, one talked about bringing the public on board with the ban, another was vague and non-committal, and the other was incoherent. So much for the opposition.
Richard Lucas.
Leader of The Scottish Family Party.
272 Bath Street,
Glasgow.
Stance on Begum is wrong
Madam, – I totally agree with Mr Stewart (This young girl needs help, Readers’ Letters, Courier, February 25) regarding the situation Shamima Begum finds herself in.
Our Home Secretary Sajid Javid is trying to show that Britain will not allow people who went to fight or support ISIS return to the UK.
What now happens to the hundreds who have already returned?
Home Office figures in 2017 show over 200 have returned and of these only 54 have been questioned. What will the figure be now?
I feel Mr Javid is wrong in his stance in this case and you would think that our government would abide by the law.
David Barrowman.
7 Donaldson Avenue,
Forfar.
Economists may not agree
Madam, – Dr GM Lindsay asserts that anyone taking any view other than that higher taxes, whatever the circumstances, always “stifle a country’s economy” must be economically illiterate.
I wonder how many economists would agree.
I wonder, too, how many would regard Dr Lindsay’s generalisation and language as helpful contributions to reasoned inquiry and debate.
Gordon Dilworth.
20 Baledmund Road,
Moulin,
Pitlochry.
Europe hacked off with May
Madam, – I am forced to put pen to paper over Brexit. I voted to remain in the EU referendum as the whole Brexit argument is nonsensical – to cut our ties with our closest and biggest export partner.
As we are running the clock down, I fear for the future of Britain and that includes Scotland.
Europe is completely hacked off with Theresa May.
Donald Tusk etc have told her their stance in the matter but she seems oblivious to them and the disaster regarding Europe.
Beverley Burns.
Beverly Hill,
Petterden,
Tealing.
SNP standing up for Scotland
Madam, – A double whammy for the Scotland in Union letter writers: two letters side by side (Courier, February 28). Unfortunately their individual attacks on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP would seem to have both been taken from the same crib sheet.
In response, I would suggest Ms Sturgeon, and Scotland’s SNP Government, are promoting the clearly expressed wish of the Scottish people, to remain in the EU, and, if this is not possible, to have the softest Brexit possible.
Unfortunately, their message from the people of Scotland has been ignored, and the messengers ridiculed, by the Westminster Government.
Secondly, the Scottish Government has consistently said it would wait ‘until the fog of Brexit has cleared’ before making any decisions on Brexit.
And, finally, the Scottish Government has been united in its stance on Brexit, unlike the Unionist parties which have been divided, and absolutely disgraceful in their conducts.
So if Messrs Redfern and Howell wish to comment on the progress of Brexit, as opposed to attacking the Scottish Government, I suggest they look elsewhere.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
SNP failing on social security
Madam, – The news the Scottish Government is delaying the devolution of major social security benefits to Social Security Scotland until 2024 will have made many people smile (Row on delay of benefits devolution, Courier, March 1).
What a joke for a party that claims to be able to better govern Scotland than Westminster.
But there is also a less amusing irony in the SNP’s reluctance to take on full responsibility for social security.
The idea bad things in Scotland are the Union’s fault has long been the nationalists’ number one recruiting sergeant.
Linda Holt.
Scottish Conservative Councillor for East Neuk & Landward.
Detached from reality
Madam, – The latest figures on immigration into this country show that the majority are from countries outside the European Union.
I wonder what the people who voted for Brexit to stop immigration from the EU think of this.
Our economy is now under threat because of the 1.9% who swung the vote for this reason and it did not work.
Are they now going to want to detach us from the rest of the world?
Alister Rankin.
93, Whyte Rose Terrace,
Methil.
