Sir, – As a far-away admirer of the Dark Blues, I would be less than truthful if I wrote that I was not delighted with the result of the recent local derby.
My local paper, the South China Morning Post, does not keep me updated on Scottish football news and results.
The news of United’s relegation I gained from a discarded London newspaper found in a local restaurant.
The devastated Arab supporters will gain more than they have lost.
I am thinking of their pleasure at visiting some beautiful countryside towns every alternate weekend and then partying overnight after getting a last-minute equalising goal against some team in a far-flung place.
I envy all my friends who shall surely enjoy the open, friendly atmosphere to be found at those charming small friendly venues, allied to cheap tickets and half-time meat pies.
The icing on the cake will be the pleasure of the stay-at-home wife as the evening meal could be a takeaway bridie or some other pastry treat from the towns they visit.
I do, however, wish the Terrors a return to the top flight, hopefully in my lifetime.
John Charleston.
Gold Coast Residences,
Castle Peak Road,
Tuen Mun,
N.T.
Hong Kong.
Scots rail fans being denied
Sir, – Congratulations on an interesting feature in your weekend supplement regarding the locomotive Flying Scotsman.
Knowing that Scotsman is to make a very brief visit to the Fife Circle line on May 15, I and several friends have trawled the internet to discover the timings and direction Scotsman will run on that route but to no avail.
The website of the charterer stated: “When the engine made its high-profile run from Kings Cross to York in February, it was brought to a stand by trespassers near Sandy causing significant delays to other services. And it is for this reason that times of Flying Scotsman hauled trains are not being released in advance.”
I would imagine many steam enthusiasts in Scotland chipped in when the National Railway Museum sought public donations to restore and rebuild Scotsman, therefore, I am extremely angry that we are being denied
timings and perhaps the only opportunity to see her in Scotland.
Colin Topping.
Crathes Close,
Glenrothes.
Solve Dundee beggar problem
Sir, – The majority of the Dundee population is excited with what’s going on in our city, especially with the work going on at the Waterfront.
We obviously hope that not only will the V&A generate jobs but also attract a large number of visitors to our improving city.
However, once our visitors start to wander the streets of Dundee how will they feel when they see beggars littering our streets not only within the city centre
but all the way out the Perth Road as far as the Sinderins.
I see those beggars daily, sitting scrounging money from decent people who feel sorry for them, not just giving money but also food.
The beggars appear to be working in teams, moving areas from time to time but continuing to pocket pound after pound.
Are those people really so needy or are they just looking for an easy buck from generous people?
I spot the beggars on a daily basis quickly pocketing the larger value coins from their coffee cup (begging bowl) so as to leave the coppers to encourage people to donate.
Why is the council, or police, not doing more to clean up our city by finding out if the beggars are genuine or not?
What about the owners of the shops and cafes where the beggars are sitting: how can they be expected to increase business when beggars are sitting outside or close to ATMs, where people feel intimidated?
I am convinced there are teams of beggars working in the City of Dundee and giving us a bad name.
Is it not time to clean up the city and then hope we can be the next City of Culture and make Dundee people proud to be here.
I am a taxi driver and see the beggars operate on a daily basis.
Ally Myles.
Myrtlehall Gardens,
Dundee.
Fine those who refuse to vote
Sir, – I was exceptionally disappointed that the turnout at Thursday’s election was a dismal 55%, with 45% not bothering to vote at all.
With the 55% that bothered to vote, only 46% of the actual turnout voted for the SNP, so the success for the SNP cannot be described as overwhelming and representative of the majority of Scotland’s electorate.
For a long time I have said that voting should be mandatory, and, like
in Australia and New Zealand, non-voters should be fined.
There is no excuse at all for this pathetic turnout, with postal and proxy voting available for people who are unable to vote in person. It was not as if the weather could be blamed. Across Scotland on Thursday it was mostly dry and sunny.
To the people who did not bother to vote I simply say this: you have no mandate to complain about the no doubt many mistakes the SNP will make over the next five years. If you don’t like the status quo, get out and vote.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
Difficult times ahead for SNP
Sir, – The SNP win must represent a bittersweet moment for Nicola Sturgeon as she failed to win a majority at Holyrood which, in turn, will severely hamper her chances of calling another Scottish independence referendum.
Furthermore, having the Tories, who can no longer be deemed “toxic”, as the major opposition will ensure the constitution is kept front and centre of
Scottish politics for as long as it takes for the SNP bandwagon to come to a grinding halt.
Ms Sturgeon has indeed her mandate to be the First Minister of Scotland, elected by the people, but at the back of her mind is also the uncomfortable reality that she failed to do as well as her predecessor, a fact that Mr Salmond will be keen to remind people as the popularity of the SNP wanes.
Ian Lakin.
Pinelands,
Murtle Den Road,
Milltimber.
A historic election
Sir, – If I was Dr Spock congratulating Nicola Sturgeon on her election victory, I would be saying: “It’s history, Nicola, but not as we know it.”
It wasn’t the victory that was historic, but the election. Scotland has been pulled back from the abyss.
The SNP is two short of an overall majority, most of the best of the opposition MSPs are re-elected and the Tories now have the muscle to take on the SNP.
We can look forward to Indy2’s slow, painful death and real divisions in the SNP coming to the surface.
Huge differences with the Greens on tax and fracking will deter an easy alliance.
Hopefully, the opposition will provide serious, well-researched scrutiny of the SNP’s record, policies and performance, the Labour Party will accept the
honest reasons for its demise and start rebuilding and the feeble committee system will be reformed.
All this should mean a further re-balancing at the council elections next year as the pace of centralisation and cuts starts to bite.
A historic election indeed.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
Low turnout disappointing
Sir, – Having perused the detailed election results, so promptly provided by the press, for the Scottish Parliament, I was disappointed by the relatively low turnout for all the constituencies.
With the absence of votes from nearly 40% of the eligible electorate, it is difficult for any party to know the real political situation in Scotland.
Surely it is time for our constitutional overseers to introduce compulsory voting which is a system used in some other countries.
It may suit those elected into government to leave things as they are, but the people and the country deserve to see the whole picture.
A T Geddie.
68 Carleton Avenue,
Glenrothes.
