Sir, I was greatly disappointed with the letter, Don’t interpret silence as tacit support . . . (May 23), and its tone, from 14 of my colleagues, as senior scientists, including their complaint that our scientific associations will not provide unequivocal support to their personal opinions.
In my research career, I received funding from UK research councils, UK charities, EC, USA, international charities, NATO and industry.
Only the first mentioned can be conceivably affected by independence.
UK charities raise much of their funding in Scotland and will continue to do so (re-classified as international charities for those who think Scotland will be a foreign country) with funding flowing based on the quality of research proposals.
The Wellcome Trust is a global charitable foundation.
The Medical Research Council is established by royal charter, “Elizabeth the Second by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Our other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.”
“The council may pursue its objects in Our United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland or elsewhere.”
It is particularly disheartening that some of the “cream of our scientific establishment” seem to be placing their vote on the best way forward for five million Scots, solely on the basis of self- interest.
Their children and great grandchildren will not all be scientists!
W J Harris. Prof ( Emeritus), 18 Queen Street, Carnoustie.
Would Trump thole Travellers?
Sir, The news that Travellers have set up home within the confines of Royal Aberdeen golf course weeks before the club hosts The Scottish Open is, of course, cause for concern for those connected with this prestigious golfing event.
Under present laws councils are unable to move them on without, it seems, first having to jump through hoops. I wonder what would happen if the Travellers decide to move further up the road and onto, according to Donald Trump, “the greatest golf course in the world”?
Robert T Smith. 30 Braeside Terrace, Aberdeen.
Reason for the rise of UKIP
Sir, Is it any wonder that UKIP is gaining political clout in a country where the leaders of the “mainstream” parties mumble on with patronising platitudes?
Many people are utterly fed up hearing a lot of “newspeak balderdash” from certain political leaders, such as: “getting focused”, “a level playing field”, “greater transparency”, “taking it on-board”.
Political leaders should stop acting the part and get to grips with the nation’s problems.
We don’t want, or require, a consultancy-orientated government.
Kenneth Miln. 22 Fothringham Drive, Monifieth.
Comments not a private matter
Sir, Clarence House said it would not comment on Prince Charles’s private conversations, but comparing President Putin to Hitler while on duty is not a private matter. It was a particularly tasteless remark given the 26 million Russians who died in the Second World War and the House of Windsor’s many links to Nazi Germany.
The Ukrainian mess was initiated by EU meddling and the Russian press was well within its rights in referring to the prince as “a clearly defined eccentric”.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
A sign of things to come . . . ?
Sir, I read with utter amazement in your article on the new Forth crossing that the box sections are being built in China and shipped over here on a six-week journey. When they built the Tay Road Bridge they built the sections in the Caledon shipyard and pulled them along the harbour to the site with a tractor!
I cannot believe that no company in this country could fabricate these sections. What about Rosyth dockyard, Methil fabrication yard or the Clyde shipyards, who have just completed huge sections for the new aircraft carriers?
Is there not one factory or shipyard in England or Europe that could have done the job?
Is this what we can expect if Scotland votes for independence, that contracts like this will be given to China?
We should be thinking about this country first.
Jim Berry. (ex-construction worker), 37 Haldane Terrace, Dundee.
“Celebrations” are wrong
Sir, While there are many good and worthwhile causes in Scotland I have taken exception to the various “celebrations” to mark the start of the First World War. In my opinion, no nation should celebrate the start of a war.
I do not wish to go into the rights and wrongs of this affair, but I do feel that the loss of life during this conflict is no cause for celebration.
It would have been far more prudent and appropriate to have waited four years then rightly celebrated the end of the war.
Willie Robertson. Grianan, Lynton, Stanley.