Sir,- With the prospect of a media frenzy looming over the forthcoming Holyrood elections and the EU referendum may I make a heartfelt plea to the BBC and ITV to refrain from creating the circuses that have been becoming more and more shallow and frenzied, with audiences more suited to the Jerry Springer show than programmes of a serious nature.
It would be preferable if there were no audiences with questions being texted or emailed in.
These could then be put on a fair and balanced way to the panels.
As we have often seen it only takes a left-wing panellist, when in discomfort, to refer to Thatcher, Tories, Westminster and bankers to guarantee a frenzy of whooping and shouting from a large and vociferous section of the audience.
Panels I suggest should consist of relevant political party members and experts who can provide information to the viewers and be free from nonentity so-called celebrities who are there for self-aggrandisement and cheap laughs and who rarely contribute anything of substance to the debate.
This is especially important regarding EU membership, which is an issue of which I am sure the majority, including myself, have very little knowledge of all the ramifications and wish to hear from people who have the information they need to hear.
I include in my comments the programmes chaired by the Dimbleby brothers, who seem to be more interested in even further inflating their egos than allowing free and balanced debate in furtherance of what they and their producers probably call “good television”.
Donald Lewis, Beech Hill, Gifford, East Lothian.
It’s time to look after Britons first
Sir,- Our politicians tell us flooding is caused by heavy rain. Flooding is also caused by ourpoliticians not making sure field drains are regularly cleaned and river and canals regularly dredged.
We are told they don’t have enough money to do everything that needs done. So would these bleeding hearts who find it acceptable to give £12 billion pounds of our money to the third world whose politicians live like kings explain why they can’t spend the money here?
Are these politicians blind? Do they not see poverty in the UK among the indigenous people.
We hear some of them say “there will always be poor people” and this by well-heeled politicians.
It’s very hard to distinguish one party from another most MPs will run a mile before meeting the working class public.
Let’s see them all going out and addressing the shop floor during the workers’ dinner break and make them answer questions.
We have people who think it is OK to buy steel from abroad. Would these same people think it was OK to export their pen-pushing jobs to the likes of India?
How about if some Indian law firm set up an international agency in the UK where business could be all conducted by email at a quarter the cost to us at an Indian office in India.
Would this be acceptable to our MPs and their friends?
Put the UK first and its people first and stop putting the ethnic minorities on a pedestal.
We have enough foreigners in the UK, and some are criminals.
How were they allowed in? Can’t we stop them or deport them without a lawyer milking the system? We are yet to hear from a politician how it is possible to supply fully-furnished houses for refugees and find a place at university for some when they can’t find a house for Scots and a house for ex-soldiers.
John G Phimister, 63 St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife.
Giving praise where it’s due
Sir,- Many responders on the subject of the Forth Road Bridge repairs have been quick to slate those of an alternative view.
Of course it’s true the engineers and workers who effected the repairs are actually the ones due praise.
But let’s also remember that if this work had taken longer or not gone to plan, the SNP would suddenly and critically be in the firing line.
The opposite then must be true, that because the shutdown was shorter, the Scottish Government must be guilty of success?
Meanwhile tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges caused congestion and frustration with their inception actually designed as a means to pay off the construction costs, not for ongoing maintenance.
However, some are very quick to forget when no tolls, prescription charges or council tax increases have saved them a lot of money and instead jump on the political offensive, despite enjoying the benefits.
R Clark, Craigton, Monikie.
Cycling to make the streets safer
Sir,- Now that it has been established Dundee has some of the most dangerous roads in the UK (The Courier, December 29), perhaps we can return to debating my original proposal of following many European countries in painting cycle lanes on key pavements throughout the city.
The purpose of this was to implement a low-cost solution in addressing Councillor Will Dawson’s concerns that Dundonians travel by bike less than the average Scot and half as much as people in Edinburgh.
Unfortunately, my suggestion was side-tracked by a ridiculous response from a Linlithgow reader of taxing cyclists, thereby potentially reducing cycle usage even further.
Trevor White, 45 Albany Terrace, Dundee.
Refuse to accept fossil fuel energy
Sir,- Wind energy is unreliable and expensive and needs back-up from coal, gas, nuclear and even diesel power stations.
With the closure in March of Longannet there is a real danger of the lights going out in Scotland.
There is a solution.
Green activists, Friends of Earth Stirling, WWF Scotland and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland are all demanding that Scotland’s trivial 0.13% emissions are reduced by ending the use of fossil fuels.
Talk is easy, so they should refuse to take electricity that has been tainted by fossil fuels in Scotland or imported from England.
While shivering they can take comfort that their global warming beliefs will remain intact while the rest of us will enjoy an uninterrupted electricity supply.
Clark Cross, 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
How much do you get paid?
Sir,- So the director-general of the Confederation of British Industry thinks paying a wage of £7.20 per hour to adult employees is a “short-term policy” that will hit economic growth (Courier Business, December 30).
Would Carolyn Fairbairn like to tell us how much she earns per hour?
Rosalind Garton, Learning for Living Adult Education Classes, Shieling of Blebo, Cupar, Fife
The SNP should try governing
Sir,- I see Nicola Sturgeon could not keep politics out of her new year greetings, with the “May 2016 bring all you wish for” dig.
Perhaps one day they may get on with governing properly instead of always trying to get more powers. They can’t even use the ones they have got properly.
B Jacobi, Wishart Place, Dundee.
Plans to return to the sword?
Sir,- The SNP Government is keen to promote the Gaelic language and get rid of Trident.
Are there perhaps plans to reintroduce the Claymore as a means of defence?
AA Bullions, 6 Glencairn Crescent, Leven.