Sir, The referendum is some four weeks in the past and the SNP are often accused of going over the ground again and again. However, judging by the letters in The Courier I notice the same suspects, such as a certain Mr Cameron, can’t seem to let it go either and constantly berate Alex Salmond for even mentioning Scottish independence.
One or two things spring to mind. Mr Salmond resigned after losing which, in my book, was honourable, and I believe he has donated his pension, which he was entitled to, to charity until he is of pension age. It would be very strange indeed if the SNP dropped its case for independence as that is one of the issues it stands for. I find it quite a bizarre notion that people should think that way.
As like many other nationalists I have forgotten the referendum for now and expect the SNP to hold all the No campaign leaders to account and keep their promises on the extra powers. I await the findings of the Smith Commission with bated breath.
People often also say that the referendum divided the nation. I can only say it has probably been divided for hundreds of years.
You had highland against lowland that ended up with the near genocide of Gaelic culture, protestant/catholic troubles, land issues and, of course, the usual rich versus poor which no Westminster government has ever solved.
What the referendum did was make people think do we want the same old, same old or is it time for something different?
As for another referendum well all I can say is a recent poll highlighted that 28% of Scots never want another one, but the other 72% do, with the only argument being should it be now, or 10 or 12 years from now?
Polls can be deceptive and opinions change quickly, however, for all those in the No camp who just can’t give it up, what is for certain is that the old way of doing politics is now finished and I, for one, am glad of that.
Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage, Ardargie.
We no longer feel safe here
Sir , I am English and I moved to Scotland 44 years ago. I married a Scot and brought up our family here. We have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and we have enjoyed living in this beautiful country until two years ago.
Then, led by Alex Salmond, the obsessive minority bullied us into a vote on independence, which they lost by a good margin, but we are still being threatened with it. Mr Salmond promised a once-in-a-generation vote, but two months later he has changed his mind.
We no longer feel comfortable here and certainly not safe enough to publish my name and address in full for fear of repercussions. The new First Minister seems equally determined to disregard the will of the people and follow her own agenda. We did not vote for change we voted for the status quo.
S M Low. Blairgowrie.
Devolution confusion
Sir, For confirmation of matters devolved to the Scottish Parliament, Ronnie Hughes (letters, November 14) should visit that parliament’s own website.
He is perhaps confused by the difference between English and Scottish law, which is of no consequence, as the devolved Law and Order covers the police force and the judiciary, not the system itself.
Similarly, Scotland had no control over NHS Scotland until it was devolved in 1999. His deliberate confusions over subjects and systems, are identical to those of our former First Minister.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
They need to accept result
Sir, Why can’t the SNP accept the will of a sovereign Scotland? After who knows how long campaigning for an independent country they failed. There is no other way to describe a 45/55 vote.
They should now get on with running the country as they were elected to do. Not only did they fail but their esteemed leader has done a quick disappearing act and left the running of our country in the hands of those he led for many years in the belief they were heading for a great life in his utopic land.
I drafted this letter in mid October when Alex Salmond announced his resignation but decided that it would be better to wait until it was proved true rather than accept the word of a character who has resigned as party leader before.
Now that Nicola Sturgeon has taken over as First Minister I can only hope that she will make a good job of running the country for all Scots, the majority who wish to remain part of the UK.
Willie Robertson. Grianan, Lynton, Stanley.
“Political elite” joining SNP?
Sir, For anyone who wondered what sort of people have been joining the SNP recently, we now have our answer. In your front page story (City helps itself to £1.7 m of SNP cash, November 14), £1.75 million of spending is attributed to 1,750 delegates, a cool £1,000 each.
It would appear party members are extremely well-heeled and the reason they continue to indulge their independence fantasy is simply because they can afford to.
The message being sent out here is very simply that these are people who do not share the financial worries or concerns of ordinary people. I am quite sure I have never spent £1,000 in a weekend in my life, or anything like it.
I guess these folks are what we should refer to as the “political elite” in Scotland, although this is not how they portray themselves.
Victor Clements. Mamie’s Cottage, Aberfeldy.
Work behind the scenes
Sir, I am writing in response to last Wednesday’s letter from Alastair I MacLean in The Courier asking about restoration plans for Perth Theatre. As chairman of Horsecross Arts, I would like to take this opportunity to update your readers. Perth Theatre remains the linchpin of Perth and Kinross Council’s ambitious plans to regenerate the city centre, in particular its plans for Mill Street.
A huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to get ready for building work to start over the next 12 months. The designs are being reviewed in detail to make sure the new building will deliver everything which audiences, performers and artists expect of a 21st century theatre and remains within budget. Fundraising has continued apace resulting, for example, in the confirmation of the Creative Scotland award of £2 million.
While the theatre is closed, we will continue to offer a wide- ranging drama programme under the banner of Perth Theatre Out and About. Only last week we had the premiere of Lesley Hart’s The Fundraiser.
We are replicating Perth Theatre’s much loved stage by creating a proscenium arch in Perth Concert Hall to enable us to create a more intimate theatre setting.
This configuration was launched in September with Sell a Door’s critically and publicly acclaimed production of Lewis Grassic Gibbons’ Sunset Song. Perth Theatre is still continuing its family panto tradition with Sleeping Beauty opening in the Concert Hall.
I hope this clarifies the position. We cherish Perth Theatre as one of Scotland’s best-loved venues. When it re-opens it will be a model of its kind and a theatre fit for the 21st century.
Magnus Linklater. Chairman, Horsecross Arts.
Think carefully about proposal
Sir, I was extremely distressed to read in The Courier (November 12) that consideration is being given yet again to using land at Perth Crematorium for the purpose of constructing a bridge as part of a new layout for Crieff Road.
The Bluebell Wood and the Winter Garden may not be official parts of the Garden of Remembrance, but the ashes of hundreds of people my husband’s included have been scattered there. Relatives regularly come to visit these places, which are very special and almost sacrosanct to them, and which give them some degree of comfort in their loss.
To me and I’m sure to many others it would be almost sacrilegious to send in the bulldozers and I would ask Perth and Kinross Council’s planning department to please think very carefully before even considering such a heartless proposal.
(Mrs) JM Stevenson. 22 Rosslyn House, Glasgow Road, Perth.
Damage done by welfarism
Sir, When I became a priest 45 years ago there was little class divide in marriage because most people married and most children were brought up by their genetic father and mother. Today marriage among the lowest of seven categories of workers is rare, less than half of our 20-year-olds will marry and just one in 20 pairs of unwed parents stay together.
With the best of intentions the Welfare State decimated marriage among the working class and those on benefits by taking on the role of husband and provider for single mums. In contrast, women in the upper social classes have every incentive to marry the father of their children who will support them financially as they give birth and nurture their children.
The bien pensant are appalled by the thought of money influencing relationships but they underestimate the financial penalty that exists for relatively poor people who marry. Sadly, by encouraging unmarried parenting among the poor, welfarism has extended poverty by robbing their children of a stable family existence and decreasing their life chances.
Rev Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Religion provides a moral code
Sir, I think Grahame Miller (letters, November 17) completely misses the point of religion in society, whether it be Christian, Muslim, Hindu or whatever. Its function is, and always has been, to provide and teach a moral code by which society should live.
In the presence of declining moral authority in schools and in families, perhaps he might explain how moral behaviour may otherwise be taught in society in the UK, and behavioural standards applied? He gives the impression of believing that there should be no social guidance at all and every individual should be free to exercise their own individual dimensions of what they believe morality to be.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.