Sir, – With the outcome of the European referendum on a knife edge, it is hardly surprising that there is still controversy about who can and cannot vote.
I see that Sir Gerald Howarth, long an opponent of European Union membership, has criticised the extension to the deadline to register (June 11).
No doubt he calculated that those taking advantage of this would be mainly young and, therefore, more likely to be in the Remain camp.
He insulted this group by saying that they have only themselves to blame if they failed to register on time.
In the modern world, of course, most people have more to worry themselves with than the niceties of election procedure.
It is important to point out that the Government has already restricted the right to vote in this crucial poll.
British citizens who have lived abroad for more than 15 years are excluded; so too are those living here between the age of 16 and 18 together with EU citizens (other than those from Cyprus, the Irish Republic and Malta) resident in the United Kingdom.
When Sir Gerald and his pro-Brexit colleagues put pressure on the Government to restrict the franchise, he would have been well aware of the likely voting intentions of people in this category.
They would be largely in the Remain camp.
It is disingenuous of him now to complain about the extension to the deadline to register.
The problem was likely to have been caused by the inadequacies of the online system and it is to that he should be focusing his energies.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court,
Glenrothes.
Chance to win back democracy
Sir, – Something is missing from this referendum, not statistics, not soundbites, certainly not scare stories, but vision.
This is particularly curious on the Remain side given that the European project was from its inception visionary, Utopian even.
It would appear that Remainers sense that the people of these islands have seen enough of the difficulties of their vision and don’t actually want any more of it. The message seems to be: “This is as good as it gets.”
On the Leave side it is surprising for a different reason: they have an attractive and positive vision to sell. Britain is one of the world’s largest economies, has many of its top universities and has London, the financial centre of the world.
With all these assets and the English language, we can look out to the world and trade with it.
We can replace our broken immigration system with a fair, colour-blind one that gets the people we need in the numbers we need. We can tailor our employment, social and environmental protection to our needs rather than have a one-size fits all bureaucratic approach forced on us by Brussels.
No more will our laws be made by faceless Brussels bureaucrats who answer in private to multi-nationals and powerful banks.
And most importantly, we will get back our democracy and, with that, our self respect.
Otto Inglis.
6 Inveralmond Grove,
Edinburgh.
Authors of our own downfall
Sir, – The UK looks like voting Leave because of an unspoken agreement on all sides not to raise any issue that will point the finger at their incompetence and our love of the easy option over the past 40 years.
It is better to blame Westminster and Brussels than ourselves for our poorly-educated people, self-inflicted illnesses and an economy based on house-building and shopping.
We don’t compete in trade because our products aren’t good enough, we need immigrants to take the 700,000 vacancies that 1.6 million unemployed UK citizens can’t or won’t fill, and those who would move for a job can’t find good, cheap housing.
These problems are not caused by the EU. The politician who admits this will inject reality into the campaign.
My decision comes down to this: which option is more likely to address our fundamental issues?
A Government which has made a start on our own problems and wants to Remain? Or one which might address them amid the upheaval of leaving the EU including Putin destabilising the former Warsaw Pact members?
Don’t blame Johnny Foreigner. John Bull has been sleeping on the job for the past 40 years.
Allan Sutherland.
1 Willow Row,
Stonehaven.
EU ruined Scots fishing industry
Sir, – Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP government are trying to convince us that we are better off and better protected within the EU.
Have they not noticed the demise of the coal industry, the decimation of the steel industry and that our fishing industry is a shadow of what it was? When I was young, every harbour was full to bursting with fishing boats but that has changed under the EU.
T. Gardner.
Main Street,
Bankfoot.
Celebrate togetherness
Sir, – I read your series Impact 200 with interest but also with some concern.
Are there really only 50 women out of 200 people worthy of mention? For example, what about marathon runner Jenny Wood Allen or Jean Thomson, Scotland’s very first policewoman?
There are other groups in society who are also ignored. I think of Marilyn Gillies who has shown what can be done without arms and hands.
Or Margaret Grant who has founded a national charity (Brittle Bone Society) from her wheelchair, or double amputee Ronnie McIntosh of Hawkhill Harriers, after whom the Caird Park stadium is named.
Then there are those who have come from other countries. You list three but there are so many more: Jyoti Hazra MBE from India, well-respected teacher, founder of Dudhope Multicultural Centre and former chair of the Scottish Council for Racial Equality; Australian Sally Cuthbert who has had a big impact on the distressed kids she helps through art therapy; Jan Wojtynski, a leader in the young Polish community.
These are but a few examples and all Dundee but there must be many more throughout Courier Country.
Impact 200 should recognise all groups who have widened our horizons, helped and inspired us. On September 25 we will be celebrating Dundee Together.
Let’s welcome and enjoy all Jock Tamson’s bairns, let’s be together.
Mary Henderson.
36 Luke Place,
Dundee.
GM research not clear cut
Sir, – MSP Peter Chapman’s urging of the Scottish Government to drop the ban on genetically modified crops is ill founded.
The cited American National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report does not provide proof of safety for GM food crops.
However, it does contain ample evidence of erasure of unwelcome published findings of harm in its two animal feeding reviews and the contrived nature of GM safety approvals. It is a political rather than scientific work.
Food and Water Watch detailed the incredible financial and personnel entanglements between the biotech industry and researchers.
The Scottish Government’s new chief scientific advisor Professor Sheila Rowan is detached from the biotech industry, but she may find herself unable to detach from the dominant corporate-interest science model maintained by mutually endorsing elites.
Arthur Jarrett.
45 Naughton Road,
Wormit.
Road will spoil beauty spot
Sir, – For the last half century I have spent holidays in Countlich Cottage, near Guay, on the Tulliemet Road between Dunkeld and Pitlochry.
The cottage was built by my grandmother in 1931. I was shocked to hear of the potential proposal to divert the A9 from its existing pathway through the Dowally, Tulliemet and Guay areas. This would devastate the wildlife and destroy a place of tranquillity and beauty.
I cannot understand why this proposal has been made at such a late stage with no prior notice or consultation.
There is nothing on the Transport Scotland website relating to this scheme.
It would appear that the principle of an open and honest discussion process with due notification is not being adhered to.
Peter Brawley.
10 Crombie Circle,
Peterculter.
