Sir, – Just when you could be forgiven for thinking that nothing could be worse for creating divisions in the Labour Party than Jeremy Corbyn, then along comes the current leadership contestant Owen Smith, citing his alternatives.
Not content with advocating his vision of a future Labour government which would apply to re-join the EU after Brexit, he maintains that such a Labour government might also endeavour to make this country wholly border free, as in the Schengen area.
Finally, he crowned his views with the statement that, were he ever to be Prime Minister, he would consider taking Britain into the eurozone.
Is this man bereft of the ability to see the current problems caused by unfettered migration to Europe?
Does he fail to see the many crises in the eurozone and how these would have a deleterious impact on our country and our way of life?
Perish the thought that either he or his like could ever reach a high position where control of our destiny was in their hands.
David L Thomson.
24 Laurence Park,
Kinglassie,
Fife.
Very proud to be British
Sir, – In the aftermath of the Brexit vote I have been thinking about all the positives associated with living in the UK.
I can talk about the landscape that is unequalled anywhere in the world. As a pilot I experience this on every flight over Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
I can talk about Britain’s historical significance, its rule of law that has channelled and guided democratic principles throughout all corners of the world for centuries.
I can talk about the Brits’ self-deprecating humour that inspires film, TV and media worldwide.
I can personally talk about Britain’s cultural emphasis on adventure and pushing the boundaries of achievement. The list of historical accomplishments for this island nation is unchallenged by any other nation on earth.
Leaving the EU may concern many (myself included) but this United Kingdom has a history of self-determination and a history of world leadership.
The UK has a history of individual excellence that inspires so many to settle here.
As a naturalised Brit, my message to my neighbours is for Britain to stay the course.
Hold on to those fundamental principles that made Britain a model for the rest of the world. Don’t abandon the principles that made Britain the example that all democracies aspire to.
Maintain British culture and don’t change British values due to perceived political correctness or external pressures from abroad.
The global ebbs and flows of cultural norms are but temporary changes that will never alter the fundamentals of British principles, principles that have stood the test of time and have benefited so many.
I am proud to be British.
Bill Davis.
The Coach House,
Reres Road,
Broughty Ferry.
Women should start to play ball
Sir, – While the SNP calls for the BBC to engineer more women into sports presenter roles, we must not lose sight of women’s responsibility.
We must no longer accept feeble excuses such as: “I’m just not interested in football.”
Women must face up to their obligations in the brave new Scotland and just make themselves interested.
The suffragettes sacrificed hugely to win the vote, but now most women can’t even be bothered to advance the feminist cause by turning on the TV and developing an interest in the Premiership.
What chance have we of achieving equality while recalcitrant females persist in pursing their own visions and passions instead of making the sacrifices necessary to achieve the statistical feminist utopia?
If it wasn’t for the likes of the SNP and the BBC, the lamentable belief that men and women tend to be different in some ways would persist, and the millions of heretics who celebrate the diversity and complementarity of the sexes would never be silenced.
Richard Lucas.
11 Broomyknowe,
Colinton,
Edinburgh.
Banking crisis to blame for cuts
Sir – I can see how much the people against Scotland breaking free from Tory rule from Westminster feel, but blaming the independence referendum in Scotland for current economic problems as Alan Bell did (September 10) is daft.
There has been a huge world economic recession, largely resulting from the excessive gambling of USA and UK banks.
The two Tory-led Westminster governments have chosen to deal with the consequences of the banking meltdown by making huge cuts in public spending.
This has meant that the people who were blameless for the crisis have borne the brunt.
Mr Bell’s suggestion that the independence referendum rather than the banking crisis and subsequent Tory cuts has been the cause of cuts to services is incredible.
K Heath.
Cortachy,
Kirriemuir.
Firm has a lot to answer for
Sir, – I wonder if BT is trying to set a world record as the firm which takes the longest time to answer the telephone?
In my short experience (20 days) as a BT customer I received innumerable apologies for the delay in answering my call which was important to them. On my final call I realised that my call was no longer important to me and decided to hang up after 25 minutes.
AA Bullions.
6 Glencairn Crescent,
Leven.
Oor Elliott from Eastbourne
Sir, – As an exiled Scot I have been admiring from afar the Oor Wullie bucket trail and as my contribution, here is a picture of my grandson to see if readers can spot the resemblance.
His name is Elliott O’Neill and he was born in the Czech Republic, though he now lives in Eastbourne.
Martin O’Neill.
42 Willingdon Road,
Eastbourne.
Wright Wullie statue error
Sir, – I was delighted to see all the Oor Wullie statues together and sad to see most of them for the last time.
They have been a great boost to the city and a really enjoyable experience for visitors.
Such a pity then that there was a major mistake on one of the statues. Frances Wright, the campaigner for human rights, particularly for women, and a great fighter against slavery, became Francis Wright on the Hewn Oot the Rocks of Dundee statue.
Perhaps this shows that what she said nearly 200 years ago is still true: “The knowledge of one generation is the ignorance of the next”.
Can the organisers please ensure this mistake is rectified.
Sue Moody.
65 Blackness Avenue,
Dundee.
Incompetent legislation
Sir, – The Supreme Court’s judgment was that the named person policy was a breach of the right to family life as defined in the European Convention on Human Rights.
The court was uneasy with a state party involving itself in “protecting” a child’s wellbeing in the light of what communist and nationalist governments did in the 20th Century.
John Swinney admits the policy will be pushed back a year and that he intends to consult “widely” to determine how to change the legislation to make it competent.
I doubt that will include those who think the exercise is a waste of valuable resources which should be concentrated on families whose dysfunctional lifestyles put children at risk.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.