Sir, – What lessons can be learned from the situation facing St Andrews University professor Clara Ponsati (“Students take to the streets in support of Fife professor”, The Courier, April 3)?
No doubt there are many flaws in the European Arrest Warrant system that means she could possibly be returned to Spain to face trial and lengthy imprisonment.
The controversy is certainly an emotive one among academics and pro-independence supporters in both Catalonia and Scotland.
There are civil liberty issues at stake here, but there are also issues that relate to how democracies work in Europe.
Professor Ponsati has placed on record her admiration for the system that led to Scotland having a referendum in 2014, the outcome of which both sides had pledged to respect.
Pressure in both the Holyrood and Westminster chambers led to the British Government temporarily ceding control of the constitution to allow the poll to be run from Edinburgh – a legal referendum which could not be challenged in the courts.
The supporters of Catalonian independence have to learn from this.
They need to press for changes to the constitution to make Spain a much less centralised state.
That means first and foremost parliamentary pressure in Madrid.
If they get those changes there will be a case for referendum on autonomy in Catalonia itself. But as any SNP supporter ought to know this can be a long haul – a long one but not an impossible one.
If Prof Ponsanti and her supporters want to get results rather than just sympathy they need to start the journey afresh.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court,
Glenrothes.
Parking meters make no sense
Sir,– Regarding the latest plan to introduce parking meters in Montrose.
It simply doesn’t make sense to me, as the scheme we have at the moment is working very well.
I use all our local shops as we are advised to do, otherwise we would lose them.
Already these shops suffer as many people use the free bus service to shop in other towns.
Add parking meters to the mix, on top of everything else, and our high street will soon become a ghost town.
We also don’t have enough car parks, as the ones we have are full of people parking for work, as they should be.
This latest measure just confuses me.
J Clark.
19 Dunrossie Tce,
Montrose.
Scotland is ruled by diktat
Sir, – Your correspondent, Derek Farmer, claimed in a letter to this paper, (“Hypocrisy at fishing deal”, March 21) that the SNP support the Common Fisheries Policy. When corrected, his response to me (“Aspiration vs reality”, April 2) was to move the goal posts and criticise the SNP for a lack of success in their ongoing opposition to this policy.
The gentleman then has the temerity of accusing others of “obfuscation”.
It should be obvious to Mr Farmer that any so-called lack of success on the part of the SNP is the result of being constantly denied influence in this matter by a Westminster establishment he wholeheartedly supports.
His claim Brussels is imposing the CFP on Scottish fishermen conveniently overlooks the fact that the current policy was negotiated by Westminster, following an agenda suiting their needs, not ours — an agenda the intended power grab seeks to reinforce, not only in regards to our fisheries but across Scotland as a whole, thereby threatening our well-earned reputation for quality produce.
For our part, we are asked to place our trust in an establishment which views our own government, as confirmed by Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes, as deserving no more consideration than Lincolnshire county council. Our current dilemma is not of the SNP’s or the Scottish electorate’s making.
Once again, we are suffering the consequences of the chronically poor Westminster Government.
Mr Farmer claims I “do not understand…matters where aspiration conflicts with reality.”
My understanding is that SNP policy is for us to be an independent country in the EU, with direct representation and the influence this bestows, aspiring to the quality of life enjoyed by the Scotland-sized countries neighbouring us.
Any future relationship with the EU will be ours and ours alone to decide. Certainly not the result of a whim on behalf of the increasingly xenophobic, jingoistic establishment ruling Scotland by diktat, which is our present conflicted reality.
Ken Clark.
15 Thorter Way,
Dundee.
Sugar tax and diabetics
Sir, – The introduction of the sugar tax on April 6 is undoubtedly a positive move to help reduce the excessive quantities of sugar in everyday food and drink.
However, for those who live with or care for young children with Type 1 diabetes, quick access to a fizzy drink or sugary food can be a life-saver, and the change is likely to create a new challenge.
People with Type 1 must regularly monitor their blood glucose levels.
If levels drop dangerously low, they will experience hypoglycemia (or hypo) and need sugar. For many, instantly reaching for a favourite fizzy drink can be what it takes to stop them going into a coma.
They know the exact sugar content and exactly how much they need to drink.
All this changes as drinks manufacturers bring in new recipes and new cans of the same fizzy drink appear on the supermarket shelf alongside the old cans. The certainty of what they are taking is lost.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition which affects more than 30,000 Scottish adults and children.
It cannot be prevented, and is not linked to lifestyle.
Awareness of the challenges associated with type 1 diabetes is increasing and the impact on them of the new sugar tax needs to be acknowledged and tackled both with understanding and good communication.
Catriona Morrice.
Development Manager,
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation,
East Tullos Industrial Estate,
Aberdeen.
NHS charity fund grab
Sir, – My wife and I have received superb cancer and cardiac treatment from Ninewells Hospital.
While the donation form gives the trustees fairly wide discretion, we would be disappointed if Tayside Health Fund diverted our subsequent donation (on which they were entitled to claim gift-aid from HMRC) to help fund a £2.7million shortfall in what is surely core NHS expenditure such as a computer system.
This seems akin to Harold Wilson and Alf Robens grabbing some of the Aberfan Survivors’ Fund in the 1960s to pay for safety measures at other coal tips.
John Birkett.
12 Horseleys Park,
St Andrews.
More firms will leave for UK
Sir, – UK seafood firm Young’s announcement that it is to close its Scottish company in Annan and transfer its operation to Grimsby should come as no surprise.
It is not the first to take this action and it won’t be the last.
All firms regularly examine their structure and given the tax regimes covering business rates, property transaction taxes and income tax brought in by the SNP, all of which compare unfavourably with the rest of the UK, and the continuing uncertainty over another independence referendum, there will likely be more such announcements.
Donald Lewis.
Pine Cottage,
Beech Hill,
Gifford,
East Lothian.
