Madam, – What gives our representatives at Westminster and the first minister of Scotland the egotistical fantasy that they are not bound by the majority decision of the electorate?
What is it about the sorely achieved rights of democracy that they don’t agree with or do not want for the country?
In this year of our lord 2019 we are witnessing the end of democracy, and heralding a new world of socialist anarchy. Politics in the UK is based upon party political lines, whereby each publishes a manifesto before an election telling the voters of policy and plans for government.
The manifestos for both the socialists and Tories before the 2015 election promised exit from Europe in accord with the will of the people, expressed in a referendum. So why are we still members?
Can we anticipate the arrest of Mr Corbyn for misleading the electorate when he changed the manifesto policy from exit to remain?
Should it not be a matter of morality and honour that a representative who no longer believes in the manifesto is obliged to resign the whip of the party and seek election under A.N. Other banner?
An old socialist mantra once said MPs vote in accord with their own views for the benefit of their constituents, which means “I’m alright Jack, pull up the ladder.”
Alan Bell.
Roods, Kirriemuir.
Standing up against the SNP
Madam, – Hopefully Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith’s promise to reform the SNP’s Curriculum for Education (CfE) is a sign opposition parties are at last getting serious about winning the 2021 Holyrood election.
Her comment that “above all, National 4 should be completely reformed with new exams in basic literacy and numeracy that ensure every pupil leaves school able to read, write and count to a high level” should be welcome news to parents and teachers,also known as voters. She’s pushing against an open door.
Her comments were in an article in Holyrood magazine and recently two founders of CfE, Keir Bloomer and Lindsay Paterson, have condemned the implementation.
If more opposition spokespeople exposed SNP failures and said what they’d do in office the SNP and Indyref2 would be history.
So, well done Liz Smith for showing the way.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Nothing is straightforward
Madam, – Your readership should know the secrets the SNP are hiding from them.
If by some quantum leap of faith, independence was voted for by the Scottish electorate, then Scotland is disqualified from entry to the EU, by virtue of not being an existing member state now.
It is the UK as a whole which holds that membership.
Nicola Sturgeon has admitted this fact, but claims to be in talks with the EU Commission.
They cannot deal with her because they only deal with the member state’s government.
In this case that is Boris Johnston, Prime Minister of the UK.
Talks thereafter would involve Scotland applying for membership, which is not guaranteed.
Does anyone anticipate the Commission’s ready compliance to having round two with them?
I think not, knowing that lot in Brussels.
So you see, nothing is as straightforward as the SNP would play it to you.
Michael R. Brady.
11 Glenallan Loan,
Edinburgh.
Let the people decide on future
Madam, – I wonder what the xenophobes who voted for no immigrants from Europe in the referendum think about the report that one million people from the EU are going to be allowed to stay after Brexit.
It seems they have put our economy at risk for nothing.
It is time we put a stop to this farce of Brexit.
If the politicians are lost for a solution they have had their chance – now let the people decide.
Alister Rankin.
93 Whyterose Terrace,
Methil.
Protecting a natural asset
Madam, – The practice of taking shellfish from Pettycur beach has been going on for years and years now and the only course of action we local can take is to telephone the police (Health fears as criminal gangs plunder beaches, Courier, August 12).
They have enough on their plates, without having to police beaches.
Is is not feasible now to put signs up at the beach saying that the collection of shellfish is illegal, and will not be tolerated?
Surely there is a body out there like the Marine Conservation Society who can fight for this to be done?
Taking the shellfish has a detrimental effect on the life of seabirds and seabeds and we really should be taking remedial action now, before it is too late.
Sepa must realise these shellfish have an important part to play in keeping the sea clean.
Please do something about it.
Mrs J Forrest.
26, Pettycur Road,
Kinghorn.
Climate figures don’t stack up
Madam, – Edinburgh pupils will be authorised to miss one school day a year to protest against the Climate Emergency.
Why even one day?
They are free to protest after school, at the weekends and on school holidays.
Climate activists have vowed to “keep challenging” this limitation and want some school time spent on climate change.
Children should be told the publicity stunt by Greta Thunberg in going to New York in the eco-ocean-going yacht Malizia II for the climate conference is actually creating more emissions than would have been created by her flying there.
That would have created four tonnes of CO2, whereas the five crewmen flying to New York to bring the yacht back to the UK will create 10 tonnes of extra CO2.
Add on the hundreds of journalists, supporters and spectators who travelled to Plymouth to watch her departure and the CO2 situation gets worse. Impressionable children should not be brainwashed by the climate brigade.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Scottish shame of Corbyn
Madam, – Jeremy Corbyn’s comments that he would not refuse a second referendum on Scottish independence is nothing short of a desperate bid to gain power by ingratiating himself with Nicola Sturgeon, and a betrayal of Scottish Labour voters who believe in the union.
Shame on you, Jeremy.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square ,
Perth.
Representation anachronism
Madam, – Edinburgh Council will tomorrow decide whether unelected religious nominees should continue to have voting power on its education committee.
This issue is being considered in councils throughout Scotland.
We and our colleagues in The Nation Secular Society have written to MSPs and councillors urging them to end this anachronism.
Religious groups have no special training as educators and often their own ideological agendas.
It is an affront to democracy to hold voting rights when you are neither voted for, nor can you be voted off.
Neil Barber.
Edinburgh Secular Society,
Saughtonhall Drive.
