Sir, I listened to John Major claim that Scotland had been well served by Westminster representation at the EU. He also warned that the USA would be annoyed if we dismissed nuclear weapons from Scotland.
May I raise and highlight just a few issues?
Is Mr Major claiming that Scotland’s fishing fleet and fishing industry has been well represented when it has been so reduced and restricted?
Is he claiming that the farming community have been dealt justly in the EU by Westminster’s representations?
Was it not the governments Mr Major served in and led which destroyed Scotland’s heavy industry? I suspect we would be better served by speaking up for ourselves.
As for America being annoyed with us; we don’t have a vote for the Congress, the Senate or for the President, (not even for a dog catcher), therefore they have no right to interfere with our decisions. They would object to, and ignore, any annoyance on our part with regard to any of their decisions or actions.
What is required is a fairer Scotland which will never be achieved through Westminster or the proffered additional devolution.
It will come about only by Scotland taking control of its own destiny and handling its own affairs in the interest of its own people.
Brian Rattray. 124/2 Gylemuir Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh.
Held back by Westminster?
Sir, The “full powers of independence” is a phrase often used by the SNP in an attempt to make the Scottish populace believe they are being held back by the Westminster Government. It bears no truth in reality.
The devolved government in Holyrood has had tax raising (or cutting) powers for a few years now. Albeit the tax raising powers granted to the Scottish Government is only 3% but as far as I am aware it has never been used.
If Mr Salmond and his cohorts are so convinced that their vision of an independent Scotland will be the land of milk and honey why has there been no evidence shown since a devolved Scottish Parliament already has these powers?
Willie Robertson. Grianan, Lynton, Stanley, Perthshire.
Willing to take any job . . .
Sir, I agree with Gordon Kennedy’s letter in Courier (June 17). I myself have been unemployed for three years and I am willing to take any job.
I went to one of the chicken factories in this area with a meat and poultry certificate, a food hygiene certificate and CV. The girl, who was foreign, only looked at the certificates for a second then asked for my birth certificate, which was then studied like it was a dodgy twenty pound note!
I was told that it was an agency that recruited and I would have to come back when the agency man was there. I did this, only to get the same kind of treatment.
This company employs more foreigners than British workers and the union rep there had to go on a course to learn Polish! I think we should have listened to Enoch Powell.
David Dewar. 42 Prior Road, Forfar.
They deserve our respect
Sir, I would like to express my disgust at those who have tried to brand the local Polish community in Dundee as Nazis. My late father was a Polish soldier who fought the Nazis in Poland, France, Belgium, Holland and finally Germany. After the war, rather than live under Soviet rule in Poland, he like many thousands of Polish soldiers chose to stay, marry a local girl and raise a family in Scotland.
This generation of Poles were brave soldiers who worked very hard, contributed positively to Scottish society and rightly deserve our respect.
Seventy years on and Scotland needs migrant workers to maintain the economy and to meet the demographic challenge of an ageing population. We should realise that Poles, as EU citizens, have the same rights as us in being able to move and reside freely within the EU. The fact that a new generation of Poles have chosen our country to work, live, pay taxes and raise their families not only deserves our respect but also our gratitude.
The Polish eagle and the Scottish lion have lived peacefully and amicably together for many decades in Scotland. We must not let others poison that enduring friendship.
Theresa McCandless (nee Myszor). Dundee.
A sensible decision
Sir, The decision of Spain’s King Carlos to abdicate in favour of his astute son Felipe contrasts with Queen Elizabeth’s refusal to do so in favour of Britain’s “clearly defined eccentric”.
An Olympic yachtsman, the sure-footed, multilingual prince has a Madrid law degree and a Masters in international relations from Washington’s elite Georgetown University.
To national approval in 2004 he married the journalist Letizia Ortiz best known for her live broadcast from New York during the 9/11 attacks and unflattering war reports from Iraq.
Spain is now expected to change its constitution to make sure Felipe’s first-born daughter Leonor will succeed him in due course rather than the sons of his controversial sisters.
The old king rendered Spain an inestimable service by foiling the 1981 coup and saving its fledgling democracy.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.