Sir, – I am exceptionally pleased that six people are now facing charges and will have to take responsibility and accountability in a court for what happened to 96 people in 1989.
But it is an absolute disgrace that it has taken so long for the families to begin to get justice.
Something is seriously wrong with a justice system that effectively allowed an establishment cover up.
It has taken 28 years for the truth to finally and slowly begin to emerge.
The devastated families have had to fight while they grieved and some parents died before hearing this announcement.
The Hillsborough Family Support group have behaved with dignity, courage and a determination to get to the truth.
I pray that this will be the beginning of some closure for them.
My only concern is that this may be a damage limitation exercise on behalf of the prosecuting authority in England and a way to try to save face as an organisation.
This must never be allowed to happen again.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
Economic gloom for Scotland
Sir, – The respected Fraser of Allander Institute has commented that Scotland is on the brink of entering into a recession, and that this will be a close-run thing.
The final result, however, is immaterial; this is a heavy indicator as to how our country is functioning.
Add this to the fact that, paradoxically, the rest of the UK appears to be basking in a post-Brexit boom.
So why are we in this position? Blame must be placed upon Nicola Sturgeon’s insatiable focus on independence.
If we reflect further upon Scotland’s services, never mind the economy, we are faced with a faltering NHS and a failing education system.
Our police force is so heavily in the red that if it were a private company it would face liquidation.
The spectre of independence has had a heavy part to play in all this, and despite assurances that independence will be laid to rest, at the moment, it is still there.
So today more than ever, such diversions must be put aside and attention must be placed on reversing our economic position.
David L Thomson.
24 Laurence Park,
Kinglassie.
Recession stalks our nation
Sir, – So the Fraser of Allander Institute confirms Scotland is stuck in a weak cycle of growth and makes clear it is not just the widespread downturn in the oil and gas sector that’s to blame.
Apparently there’s a slowdown across a broad range of industrial sectors. Plus, worryingly, growth continues to lag way behind the UK as a whole, as it has since mid 2015.
Why is this? The SNP government bizarrely maintains Brexit is to blame though why should Brexit negatively and selectively impact on only this part of the UK and no other?
The number one difference between Scotland and the rest of the UK is the SNP’s constitutional sword of Damocles that relentlessly hovers over us.
Why open or expand a business in Scotland when years of constitutional upheaval might lie ahead with no clarity on issues such as currency, the deficit and funding of public services in a post-oil boom world without the Barnett Formula comfort blanket?
And Nicola Sturgeon’s announcement that a second referendum will never be off the SNP’s agenda increases the chances that Scotland’s economy will sink into recession.
Martin Redfern.
Merchiston Gardens,
Edinburgh.
Dundee needs new bypass
Sir, – I found Dundee City Council development convener Lynne Short’s comments on the proposed pedestrian crossings on the Kingsway in Dundee amusing.
She said: “We don’t have to rush through life.”
One thing you rarely do when using the Kingsway is rush.
It is totally inadequate for the volume of traffic that uses it.
A new bypass linking the A90 either side of Dundee is what is required.
This would not only make the Kingsway safer but also the race track that is the A94 via Coupar Angus.
Ian Stuart.
18 St Mary Street,
Arbroath.
A question of perspective
Sir, – I note that in a recent letter regarding the inequalities in society, your correspondent Graham Haddow described the residents of Grenfell Tower as have nots.
I would have thought that anyone who can afford to live in a flat in the centre of London with a rent of reportedly £2,000 per month would be better described as well to do. Perhaps I live in different circumstances from Mr Haddow.
Mac Roberts.
Orchard Cottage,
Inchture Station.
SNP record in black and white?
Sir, – It hasn’t been a good few weeks for Nicola Sturgeon.
First there was the loss of 21 seats in the election, then another farm payments delay, a retreat on the named person scheme, confusing proposals on education from John Swinney and the closure of the children’s ward at St John’s Hospital.
And now there are concerns about continued SNP involvement with black-listed Petro-China and questions about their funding of Edinburgh Zoo.
As Alex Salmond might say, there are more pandas in Scotland than there have been recent SNP successes.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Estonia shows way to Scotland
Sir, – It is ironic that as Scotland, through being part of the UK, prepares to leave the European Union, Estonia, with a population around a quarter that of Scotland, has taken over the EU presidency.
The presidency is responsible for driving forward the EU’s work.
During the next six months this will focus on key areas, including single and digital markets, the energy union and closer integration of eastern partners into Europe.
Its prime minister, Jüri Ratas, has declared that Brexit is not a priority for the presidency, a sign that the EU is moving on from Brexit, with bigger issues to deal with.
Estonia, which next year will celebrate its centenary of becoming independent, takes over from Malta in holding the presidency.
During the independence referendum, the Better Together camp claimed that the only way to guarantee Scotland’s place in the EU was to vote to remain in the UK.
Indeed, Scotland was to lead the UK not leave the UK.
Alex Orr.
Flat two,
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
