Madam, – Alex Bell in his column “Why I will be voting Green at the EU elections” (Courier, May 9) makes much of his belief that no-one knows or much cares about Scotland’s MEPs.
He is particularly critical of Ian Hudghton for whom, he says, he once worked.
No doubt Alex Bell will not now be expecting a reference from his former employer.
A recent BBC4 programme was highly critical of the civic education we give our young people about government and politics.
It stands in contrast with Norway, which scores highly in terms of participation in the democratic process and is, incidentally, one of the most equal societies in the world in contrast with the UK where the top 1% are becoming richer and 99% poorer.
Nor are our journalists like Mr Bell exempt from blame: the endless stream of negative propaganda from the media pillorying MEPs like Ian Hudghton and the alleged profligacy of the EU, which until its recent expansion to absorb the Eastern European states had a smaller bureaucracy than the average UK local authority, has undermined the standing of one of the major post-war achievements.
The EU has ensured 64 years of peace in Europe and the rule of law enshrining in our legal system, human rights and employment legislation from which we all benefit, besides a body of other legislation on environmental issues on clean air and health and safety at work.
In achieving these goals it has somehow managed to ensure a measure of agreement and compromise between 28 member states with very different cultures – something our current UK parliament singularly fails to achieve.
If we had more and better civic education about government and how democracy works plus a less insular press perhaps we would all know more about the work of the EU and the contribution our MEPs make to it.
Scotland has voted by a large majority to remain in this partnership of nations.
Since Alex Bell is going to vote Green in the forthcoming EU elections he is presumably a Remainer.
It is odd his column undermines an institution he claims to support.
Alexandra MacRae.
8 Jubilee Park,
Letham.
Ensuring a healthy start
Madam, – This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year’s theme, set by the Mental Health Foundation, is raising awareness about body image and how we think and feel about our bodies.
The well-documented statistics on mental health problems as they impact children and young people in Scotland are stark and speak for themselves, with more individuals than ever seeking help. A contributor to this is around the issue of body image.
Studies have found that body dissatisfaction can start as young as six and lead to severe anxiety and depression.
A recent report from the Scottish Government noted that many young girls in Scotland report being “unsatisfied with their physical appearance”, often trying to meet the unrealistic standards as seen on social media.
The Scottish Government announcement that school pupils are to be coached on how to use social media healthily is therefore to be welcomed.
The cost advantages of prevention and early intervention programmes such as this when it comes to mental health should not be underestimated.
Educating children and young people on their mental health and wellbeing is critical, building up emotional resilience.
Much has clearly been done, but there is still much work to be done to ensure Scotland’s children and young people with dissatisfaction over their body can get the right care, in the right place and at the right time to prevent this issue escalating into a serious mental health disorder.
The Scottish Children’s Services Coalition.
4 Queen Street,
Edinburgh.
Bottle return scheme simple
Madam, – I cannot understand why people are having such a problem regarding a bottle return scheme.
In Bavaria you just take your empty back to the supermarket that you bought it from, pop it into a machine and it churns out a receipt that you take to help pay for whatever shopping you are buying that day. Simple.
This is similar to what happened when I was a child, the only difference being was that you were given the penny or two pence (old money of course) in your hand.
Mrs June Reid.
12 Findhorn Street,
Fintry, Dundee.
Education claim inaccurate
Madam, – I was very concerned on reading your report “Scottish teachers close to breaking point, study says” (Courier, May 11) which details the findings of a recent NASUWT report stating two-thirds of teachers in Scotland say their mental health has suffered because of their work in the past year and concluded by saying that “many teachers are walking away from the profession”.
It was thus with significant disbelief I read a letter from Henry Malcolm in which he challenges Clark Cross’s earlier correspondence criticising public services and praises the Scottish Government’s achievements in delivering improved public services, including education.
His basic claim is that “Scotland is actually outperforming the other nations of these islands”.
As a further basis for his “outperforming” claim in education he makes a reference to “official figures” which purport to show education standards are rising.
The last issue of official figures via the Scottish Survey for Literacy and Numeracy was in 2017 and showed standards had fallen.
Since then I have seen no further official figures which would support Mr Malcolm’s assertion.
GM Lindsay.
Whinfield Gardens,
Kinross.
Can’t even post a letter correctly
Madam, – So tens of thousands of letters from the SNP are addressed incorrectly, then mailed out.
This is the party that claimed in 2014 it would efficiently establish a fully functioning independent country within 18 months – it can’t even post a letter without messing up.
Martin Redfern.
Woodcroft Road,
Edinburgh.
EU vote to give Lib Dems boost
Madam, – The EU elections are becoming a masterpiece of electoral abstract art which commentators and politicians stand in front of for hours, in awe of its complexity and what it says as a snapshot of voter intentions on May 23 and the coming years.
The English council election results were blamed on Brexit, so Scottish Lib Dems must be drooling.
If they get the message over they are the only anti-Brexit and anti-Scexit party in Scotland they could emulate their 19% share of the English elections, almost trebling their 7% EU 2014 share in Scotland.
The SNP and Greens insist independence is the route to EU membership, even though it would take at least 10 years to get Scotland’s deficit below the 3% entry requirement.
And one-third of Scottish Nationalists voted leave in 2016.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
