Sir, The figures for hate crimes in Scotland showed a worrying increase in 2013/2014, as quoted in Saturday’s Courier.
Increases in race hate and sexual orientation crimes merited concern from Scotland’s top prosecutor Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland QC.
In his haste to appear politically correct, he did not even comment on the increase against those with a disability.
As this group contains those least able and most unlikely to complain to the authorities, this omission only confirms that the disabled, in the eyes of some in our society, are less deserving of our concern.
The very least Lord Advocate Frank Mulholland should do is issue a written apology to all those with a disability who suffered a hate crime. If not, he should be considering resignation from his role as Scotland’s top prosecutor as he appears to be part of the problem.
Joseph A Peterson. 32 Kilrymont Road, St Andrews.
Think about meeting times
Sir, I write to express concern ahead of the Perth and Kinross Tenants and Residents Federation annual general meeting, due to take place today.
During my past tenure as an executive member, the federation often expressed its desire for younger people to become involved. Despite this, its regular meetings were held (and continue to be held) during normal working hours.
This has undoubtedly precluded many younger people (below retirement age) from becoming involved with the federation directly. While some of them can be represented through a dwindling number of individual tenants and residents associations, the majority of the council area (geographically Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Crieff, Kinross) is not covered by an association.
This is catered for by a register of interested persons but neither the register nor the association facilitate direct involvement through executive membership of the federation. Employment status is not currently a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010, therefore the federation’s practice of holding daytime meetings is not unlawful. However, it could still be objectively and reasonably perceived as indirect discrimination (any practice which makes it harder for a particular group to meet the criteria).
Ironically, the agm is being held in the evening, as in past years, ‘to encourage attendance by those unable to attend during the day’. I call upon the federation to think carefully about its timing of future meetings, not least in light of its professed desire to directly involve younger people.
Ron Rose. Bridgend, Braco, Dunblane.
Jobs give us a chance
Sir, Over the last year I have applied unsuccessfully, for numerous jobs in the service industry. What really concerns me is the number of people from Eastern Europe who were successful.
Why are employers, particularly in this industry, recruiting this way and not employing people locally? As many of those employed have poor English language skills, goodness knows what tourists must think.
Surely they have a responsibility to reduce unemployment locally and stimulate the local economy by doing so.
Many will come up with the old chestnut by saying that British people do not wish to work and are workshy but that is not the case. With the over-zealous Iain Duncan Smith desperate to get people off benefits and back to work British people are keen to find work.
I think it is very unfair and I would urge employers to give British workers a chance.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.
Time to bin Blair doctrine
Sir, On the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq war, Alastair Campbell said: “We should be really proud of the role we played in changing Iraq from what it was to what it is becoming.”
That self-serving nonsense and similar sentiments expressed by his former boss Tony Blair proved to be, as we see today in that benighted land, a hostage to fortune.
It was inevitable some battle-hardened group of Sunni fundamentalists like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) would invade and scatter Iraq’s US-trained toy soldiers.
When Bush-Blair toppled Hussein, and their successors undermined Mubarak and Gaddafi, they unleashed a religious war not seen since the nightmare of 17th century Europe.
The Islamic world is divided into Sunni and Shia, the equivalent of Catholics and Protestants, with Saudi Arabia and Iran playing the parts of Holland and Spain.
It is time the Blair doctrine of foreign intervention in the name of liberal values, proclaimed before 9/11 but put into action thereafter, was consigned to the dustbin of history.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
One law for some, and . . .
Sir, I was appalled to read that Dundee FC manager Paul Hartley has managed to escape a driving ban because of hardship reasons he needs his car to carry out his duties as a football club manager.
How many other people have been in a similar predicament, where a ban would cause them hardship and make it difficult for them to carry out tasks required by their employment and may, in fact, have had their livelihood taken away from them?
It seems there is one law for some and another law for the rest of us. And before people rush to query this letter, I am a Dundee FC fan.
Andrew Armstrong. 1 Weavers Yard, Dundee.