Madam, – Can I commend The Courier for highlighting the failure of Angus Council to invite the Angus constituency members of parliament to the local Armed Forces Day ceremony (Probe into ‘snub’ for veterans minister, Courier, June 25).
On all previous occasions the local MSPs have attended this important annual ceremony.
In fact, not only were the two local MSPs, Graeme Dey and Marie Gougeon missing from the ceremony, but both are Ministers in the Scottish Government.
To add further insult Graeme Dey is in fact the Scottish Government’s Veterans Minister.
It would seem that this ceremony had no Scottish Government representative in attendance.
It would be easy to brush off this “oversight” as a so-called administrative error, but I am afraid this will not wash.
It seems that this Armed Forces Day has been politicised.
Both MSPs are members of the SNP.
Personally I am incredulous that the hierarchy of the Tory /Independent ruling council were not aware of the list of attendees in advance of the ceremony and that the absence of any communication giving their apology for being unable to attend by both local MSPs did not at least raise a query or a degree of puzzlement?
I have to state that nothing surprises me any more regarding Angus Council’s ruling coalition group.
And in relation to the inquiry that will take place to find what went wrong in this case, I am not holding my breath.
Dan Wood.
Charles Melvin Gardens,
Kirriemuir.
Respect for our war heroes
Madam, – I found it of interest reading the letter by Alan Fraser (‘Glory plagiarism’ is sad but not always bad, Courier, June 24).
My father served in the 2nd Battalion Black Watch from 1936 to 1945 in Palestine, India and then Europe.
His whole time in the regiment was spent at war, apart from India, and he had many medals of the campaigns.
After leaving the army in 1945 his medals were put in a metal box and never once did he wear the, even on Armistice Sunday at the local memorial.
I don’t think the medals ever saw the light of day as he was never a man to advertise that he had been through the war – even his Black Watch beret and cap badge lay in a drawer untouched.
I know my dad was proud of his regiment, but he did not flaunt it.
I only heard him talk of the war once when a visiting former parish minister, who also went through the war in the Far East, shared a few memories.
I don’t know what became of the medals but I do respect those who earned them and wear them with pride.
Thomas A Brown.
18 Garry Place,
Bankfoot.
Working the system
Madam, – Why is it that people on benefits appear to be better off than if they are working?
Far be it for me to criticise genuine people that are not able to work because of ill health or disablement.
But I think the system is being abused by those that are not in need of benefits and are able to do a day’s work.
They seem to be able to pull the wool over the authorities’ eyes and rob them right, left and centre.
I am a pensioner but I worked all my life. Because I was prudent and put some money into a private pension I am taxed to pay for all those that could be working.
I think it is a bit unfair on myself and people like me that have worked hard to provide for themselves.
James Chrystall.
29 Glenprosen Street,
Montrose.
It is all about Brexit
Madam, – Your correspondent Martin Redfern is a busy little bee. I can hardly pick up a newspaper without finding a letter from him or one of his cronies.
It’s all about Brexit, Mr Redfern. During the 2014 independence referendum we were told that the only way we could stay in the EU was by voting no.
We duly voted no and three years later we were rocking round in Brexit.
At the Brexit referendum Scotland comprehensively rejected Brexit.
There was no electoral division in Scotland that voted yes. Scotland is not a nation of “Little Englanders”.
There are cogent demographic and economic reasons why we should stay in and leaving will destroy the Scottish economy.
At the recent election for MEPs Scots again rejected the idea of Brexit.
Indeed, the SNP won a third seat as the Scots treated that election as another Brexit referendum.
Lastly, Mr Redfern, do you seriously consider it democratic when the only person who can authorise an independence referendum is the tenant of No. 10 Downing St?
There is only one elected body who should be able to decide that and it is the Scottish Parliament.
To paraphrase a well-known Tory mantra, devolution means devolution.
Never mind giving the Scottish Government more carefully-selected powers. Just return some democracy to us.
Jim Robertson.
194 High Street,
Montrose.
Leaving would be expensive
Madam, – Another day, another report of a botched IT system in Scotland, leaving the Scottish Public Pensions Agency needing to be bailed out by the Scottish Government to the tune of £23 million.
Or, to be more accurate, by the 56% of us who pay income tax.
The Auditor General “found no evidence of a clear business case… The result was a project that failed to provide value for money”.
The SNP wants to set up an entire Scottish system in a country separate from the UK.
After the botched Police Scotland £46m IT “revamp” and the £4 million mishandling of the Scottish Social Services Council’s project, it looks as if the price of leaving the UK would be even higher than we had thought.
Pooling and sharing in the UK is demonstrably to Scots’ advantage.
Jill Stephenson.
Glenlockhart Valley,
Edinburgh.
Why is taxpayer picking up bill?
Madam, – Who owns this little cottage the Prince has moved into and why should the taxpayer pay for renovations?
Has any government asked us if we want or need a royal family or a House of Lords, who are living of the backs of the taxpayer?
We need to have another referendum asking us. Democracy in this country is slipping away. George Orwell prophesied this.
John G Phimister.
63 St Clair St,
Kirkcaldy.
£2.4m could be better spent
Madam, – An estimated 9,000 people are sleeping on the streets in the UK each night, schools are having to run raffles to buy school equipment, the demand for foodbanks is outstripping supply and there are many more such stories.
So it is incredible to me to hear the taxpayers are footing a £2.4 million bill for Harry and Meghan to convert their five cottages into one big splendid home.
The Queen will also get a pay rise of 13.4% up to £82.5 million this year.
After 10 years of austerity, this is totally unacceptable.
Mr P. Hughes.
10 Chapel Place,
Denbigh.