Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The words of Nicola Sturgeon which you highlighted (October 22) and which read: ”The answer to Tory cuts is to control our own resources”, require the most critical scrutiny.
I am no particular follower of the Tory or any other mainstream UK party but a firm supporter of Better Together.
The unfavourable financial situation, affecting not just the UK but most of Europe and the western world, requires ”cuts” by whatever party or coalition is in government, shackled with little room for manoeuvre by what it is considered prudent to borrow in order to make up for the inevitable, in present times, deficit in national income.
Ms Sturgeon is using the word ”Tory” in an emotive manner in an effort to drum up support for her party’s reckless pursuit of independence.
Does Ms Sturgeon really believe that in an independent Scotland financial constraint would no longer be an issue? One could be forgiven for thinking that that is how she sees it.
A characteristic of politicians is a tendency to make promises which they fail to keep.
If you vote, say, Tory and you become disappointed with their performance then you have the option of voting Labour next time.
If the SNP win independence on the basis of unrealistic promises causing disappointment there will no going back.
The potential for an irreversible disaster is something about which the people of Scotland will have to think very seriously, which must include critical analysis of the rhetoric of the SNP leadership.
Arthur Davis.Kinnaird Steading,Pitlochry.
Sir, – The notion that the SNP will disband when independence is won, or not won, as suggested by Kenneth Brannan (Letters, October 23), is naive in the extreme.
In the first scenario, the SNP, having won the referendum and most likely another majority in the Scottish Parliament election shortly thereafter, will wish to implement their policies on health, transport, education and so on while the independence negotiations proceed.
The idea they would meekly hand over the running of Scotland to those parties who had scoffed at the idea of an independent Scotland and pulled every trick in the book to prevent it is absurd.
In the second scenario if the SNP and the Yes campaign do not secure a majority in 2014 my guess is that it will be by only a small margin. Given the forces about to be unleashed by the Naysayers and the might of the British Establishment, a narrow loss will be an ”almost victory”.
Supporters of independence would, naturally, be disappointed, but soon realise that only by re-electing the SNP, in Holyrood and Westminster, in even greater numbers, will our dream be realised.
The genie cannot be put back in the bottle.
David Roche.1 Alder Grove,Scone.
Sir, – I’m afraid I read with despair the article in Monday’s Courier, ”Pupils to catch the bus in a healthy cooking drive”.
For over 20 years I was responsible for the teaching of ”healthy eating” in an Angus secondary school. During that time I could assure the public that all second year pupils could certainly ”crack eggs” when they made swiss rolls and cut tomatoes when making pizza and garnishes.
Have standards of home economics in school now fallen so low that the Scottish Government feel it necessary to employ the Food Standards Agency to teach cookery on a ”bus” specially provided for the purpose?
And has home economics, therefore, become so devalued now as a life skill?
Avril Simpson.Field Studio,Welton Corner,Forfar.
Sir, – I must agree with Jim Crumley’s views on the repositioning of the V&A. It is definitely a disappointing move. It would be interesting to know what costs are to be saved, considering a substantial amount has already been spent on survey work on the river bed.
Have the onshore foundations been costed? Is this not reclaimed harbour land which would also require piling etc, or is use to be made of existing Olympia foundations?
Perhaps someone, possibly a civil engineer, could enlighten the public who voted for this project.
David Kydd.21a Balunie Avenue,Dundee.
Sir – Re Arthur Gall’s letter (October 24), he is 100% correct in his summary of the V&A project situation.
The goalposts have definitely been moved after the issue and, yes, the competition should be back on the table as the floating design voted for most certainly won’t have the same effect once on land.
Mark Ritchie.26 James Street,Carnoustie.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.