Sir, – In the festive season people from all sorts of backgrounds come together in situations with which most of us feel comfortable. Sometimes – through a blend of personal and professional rivalry, sexual tension, party frivolity and too much alcohol – things are said and done that can cause offence.
I read with some interest the views of Marie Penman of Women Together in Fife on the feelings of her members on “wolf-whistling” (“Women in bid to punish sex pests”, Courier, December 7).
Certainly our streets should be safe for everyone – most personal taunts have to be discouraged.
The Scottish Government and WTF do want to outlaw what they call “misogynistic harassment”.
I just wonder though if they are aware of some of the realities of what goes on at various celebrations. It is wrong to assume that offensive behaviour is always a one-way street with predatory males making women’s lives difficult.
Anyone who has ever witnessed the antics at a so-called hen night knows that females can say and do things that some men find very embarrassing.
The point here is that we need to be very careful before we rush into passing laws designed to outlaw antics like wolf-whistling.
Women Together in Fife are no doubt sincere in their complaints, but they risk sounding like puritans who can spoil a good case with over-zealous rhetoric.
Bob Taylor.
24 Shiel Court,
Glenrothes.
Friendly advice for the PM
Sir, – I hate to labour the point but Theresa May is now a dead duck dying, as is her Government.
Given the current state of crisis and the chaos they are causing in the country and the consequences for the economies of Scotland and Britain, I think it is time that Theresa May stepped down and made way for someone else.
I mean no offence and hope Theresa will take my comments on board.
Beverley J Burns.
Petterden,
Tealing.
Independence case is made
Sir, – In light of the most amazing chaotic and shambolic scenes unfolding at Westminster, where a PM has lost complete control of her government, as well as the respect from voters across the country, and where the stock of the UK is now surely down-graded to “junk stock” status, I would be more than willing to listen to any argument as to why Scotland should not be independent.
Graeme Finnie.
Balgillo,
Albert Street,
Blairgowrie.
A sense of perspective
Sir, – The British national treasure Sir David Attenborough, like some desiccated Victorian divine preaching fire and brimstone, did his level best in Poland to revive the terrors of global warming but received only a smattering of applause from assembled Greens.
There have been just too many failed predictions, too much jiggery-pokery with the science, too many snake-oil salesmen like Al Gore or Prince Charles flying about in their private jets and the revelations of the Climategate whistleblower simply won’t go away.
While polls show some public concern, when people were asked to prioritise issues the UN’s own survey found “action on climate change” rated last out of the 16 suggested priorities.
Ordinary people have too many real problems to worry about pretendy ones.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
We can survive and thrive
Sir, – In answer to Derek Farmer (Courier Letters, December 6) I would like to ask him a couple of questions.
Firstly, how do countries such as Norway and New Zealand, both with populations smaller than Scotland, manage without their Barnett consequentials given they are apparently essential to Scotland surviving?
Secondly, what part, if any, do those who voted for Scottish independence have to play in the future development of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
It is not just the nationalists that need to move on from 2014, in my opinion.
Do I agree with everything the Scottish Government does?
Do I need to vote SNP in 2021 or be a member of the SNP because I support Scottish independence?
The answer to both questions is no.
As a Fifer who has been a groceries online delivery driver for the past six years in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, no prizes for what angers me most with regards to Scottish Government policies. But if it had not been for devolution the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) would not be partly opening next week and hopefully fully operational either by Christmas or early in the New Year.
It certainly would not have been on Westminster’s list of priorities.
Peter Ovenstone.
6 Orchard Grove,
Peterhead.
Chance to make a difference
Sir, – I was not surprised by the findings of Citizens Advice Scotland’s “Bringing Food to the Table” report (“Lack of money means one in five people in Scotland going hungry, says survey”, Courier, December 7).
It revealed more than a fifth of people in Scotland, including many in employment, have gone a day without eating because they cannot afford food.
It is appalling that in 21st century Scotland, some 35% of working respondents said they were struggling to afford balanced meals.
Sadly, these are the stories I hear from individuals and families that we work with every day.
In the last 12 months, applications to Aberlour Children’s Charity’s Urgent Assistance Fund, which provides cash grants for people in urgent need of financial assistance across the country, have risen by more than 80%.
As a result, we have given out double the amount of money to people in crisis.
That is why, ahead of the Scottish budget on Wednesday, I have urged the cabinet secretary to consider introducing the new Family Income Supplement now as committed to by the Scottish Government in Every Child Every Chance, as opposed to in three or four years’ time.
I firmly believe this would alleviate the worst effects of financial hardship for many struggling families across Scotland.
SallyAnn Kelly.
Chief Executive, Aberlour Children’s Charity,
36 Park Terrace,
Stirling.
Raw deal for Scottish pupils
Sir, – Once again Ken Clark scolds me for attacking his beloved SNP Government. (Letters, December 4).
May I remind him that his party has been in power and in control for 11 years so they have had adequate time to sort out the numerous and ongoing problems of defects on Scotland’s bridges and damaged and potholed roads.
The SNP-dominated government have 45 spin doctors costing £4.6 million and I suspect Ken Clark with his record could be employed as number 46.
A fact that I did not mention previously was that EU university students get their fees paid by the Scottish Government and, even worse, those enrolling before Brexit will get their fees paid after Brexit.
The cost of maintaining free tuition for EU students in all four years of their undergraduate degree course at a Scottish university is £97 million a year.
However the cap on places for Scottish students means that students who have up to eight A-grade Highers are being rejected.
Thank you Mr Clark for giving me this opportunity.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Little Zuma safely home
Sir, – Thank you very much to the kind person who found my favourite toy Zuma on Saturday evening at the train station.
I must have dropped him as I got out of the car.
We were rushing for the train at the time.
I’m very pleased that my granny found him in that safe place on Sunday morning.
Thank you so much to whoever looked after him for me and put him in the safe place.
Benedict ( aged 4).
c/o 51 Strathern Road,
Broughty Ferry.