Sir, – Nicola Sturgeon just can’t help herself.
Whatever the issue, whatever the event, her response, or as she prefers to term it, Scotland’s response, is filtered through the distorting, divisive prism of nationalism.
So the horrific bombing in Manchester has elicited gestures of solidarity from countries as far apart as France and Dubai which projected the Union Jack on to landmark buildings.
Just over a year ago, the SNP projected the Belgian flag on to Edinburgh Castle as a tribute to the dozens of people murdered by terrorists in Brussels.
Why didn’t the Scottish Government consider Manchester’s victims to be worthy of the same public gesture?
Then there was Ms Sturgeon’s decision not to call in the army to bolster and relieve the police in Scotland during last week’s designation of the UK threat level to critical.
Several reasons were advanced for the decision not to follow the rest of the UK: Scotland’s superior police force and there being no specific threat in Scotland.
Both these arguments were disputed by security experts. They believe that Scottish cities like Glasgow are no less terrorist targets than Manchester.
Whatever the truth of the matter, which we will likely never know, Ms Sturgeon’s decision projects the exceptionalist myth that Scotland is somehow different and better than the rest of the UK and it enhances the image of the First Minister as someone who is, or should be, the head of a separate state.
Such delusions make Scotland more, not less, vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
Linda Holt.
Dreel House,
Pittenweem.
Where was BA back-up plan?
Sir, – With the chaos at the weekend with British Airways computers crashing and thousands of people having travel plans cancelled or severely delayed, it makes you wonder if the world is too dependent on technology?
Surely an organisation as large as British Airways should at least have a back-up plan.
Part of the problem, and this happens in many organisations to save money, is outsourcing work offshore and that is never a good idea.
Ironically, the only means of communication to passengers was Twitter. That is outrageous. Not everyone has access to portable computer devices nor does everyone have an account on Twitter.
Surely a board with felt tip pens would have been more appropriate. Lessons must be learnt.
Gordon Kennedy.
117 Simpson Square,
Perth.
Saltire not mere political symbol
Sir, – Unlike James Cormie (May 19) I do not regard Scotland’s national flag as “relegated…to the status of a mere political symbol”.
I look on it with pride as, I believe, do very many of my fellow Scots.
Mr Cormie might also consider whether crowing letters like his may risk turning the union flag into a “mere political symbol”.
Gordon Dilworth.
20 Baledmund Road,
Pitlochry.
Time to arm population?
Sir, – Now that we have armed police and the military to protect us, could we further consider allowing private individuals to carry arms, as in the United States?
The licensing and training would have to be of the best, but terrorists, who are cowards, might think twice before attacking individuals if they know we can fight back.
Malcolm Parkin.
Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood,
Kinross.
Tory sums do not add up
Sir, – Ruth Davidson yet again seems confused in terms of what level of immigration she seeks for Scotland.
According to Ms Davidson, Scotland is “unattractive” to immigrants coming to the UK due to the fact that it is somehow the highest taxed part of the UK.
However, it is quite incredible that those in the past looking to come to Scotland have been put off by an income tax change that has just come into force.
Indeed, it should be noted than any income tax increase is eclipsed by council tax and water charges that are considerably lower in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
Ms Davidson’s solution to boost immigration to Scotland is, bizarrely, to reduce the UK net migration target to less than 100,000 a year through cutting immigration.
As current net migration is around 248,000, the impact of Ms Davidson’s proposal would clearly reduce the number coming to Scotland even further, unless of course, what she is saying is that she wants a wildly disproportionate number of the 100,000 immigrants to come to Scotland.
If the latter is the case she should do the honest thing and admit this.
With an ageing population, Scotland needs more, not less immigrants, and like many other Tory proposals Ms Davidson’s sums simply do not add up.
Alex Orr.
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
SNP’s financial black holes
Sir, – Alex Orr is good at spreading misinformation (May 29). He did not say that the UK is paying £23 million pounds every day to the EU.
That is £8.6 billion which the UK could spend more wisely than propping up the failing countries in the EU.
Mr Orr avoids the well-documented financial failures of the SNP.
Police Scotland not only had a computer disaster but a VAT black hole of £70 million because Alex Salmond refused to take West-minster advice.
The £40 million grant rashly given to Prestwick Airport is another black hole in waiting.
The SNP made a mess of the payments to Scottish farmers.
The EU could have fined Scotland £125 million for late payments.
Another waste of taxpayers’ money is the payment of university fees for EU students even after Brexit.
The Scottish Government will pay an estimated £300m to ensure the 13,400 EU students already in university, and those starting in 2017, will get free education.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Economy not in safe hands
Sir, – Theresa May and her party claim they are the only ones who can be trusted with the economy. The reality proves the exact opposite is true.
In 2010 when they were elected, national debt was £1 trillion. Now it is £1.7 trillion. Personal debt is about £1.4 trillion.
Harry Key.
20 Mid Street,
Largoward.