Today’s letters to The Courier.
Sir, – The planned screening of the film You’ve been Trumped in the Scottish Parliament the day before Donald Trump gives evidence to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee does no credit to the parliamentarians who have arranged it.
It appears that the screening has been arranged by the Green MSP Patrick Harvie, who is himself a member of that committee.
While everyone has a right to free expression, it surely cannot be appropriate for a member of that committee to promote the screening of inflammatory material about a witness it has invited to contribute to its inquiry before his evidence has been heard.
I hold no brief for Trump, but the committee members who, in pursuit of their own political agendas, seek to undermine the important work of this inquiry do the many Scottish citizens who suffer the ill-effects ofthe rush for wind a disservice.
(Prof) Glen Newey.Dreel House,Arncroach.
They just don’t give a fig
Sir, – MPs are fighting to keep 12 fig trees in the entrance hall of Portcullis House, a parliamentary office block. The trees are rented at a cost of £32,500 a year and so far have cost £400,000.
MPs claimed that removing them would decrease the quality of air that MPs breathe. The poor dears.
If they devoted as much time to solving all our other domestic and economic problems as to fig trees we would not be in the mess we are now.
Since MPs have more than generous salaries, exorbitant expenses which they can milk, and future platinum pensions, I would suggest these complaining MPs could easily afford to pay for the fig trees themselves.
Or do they just not give a fig about the electorate?
Clark Cross.138 Springfield Road,Linlithgow.
Get a sense of humour
Sir – I read with much amusement the satirical, tongue-in-cheek, map-assisted comments reported as published in The Economist.
I suppose I am used to this sort of joke, having served for many years in the armed forces amongst a variety of Scots, Welsh, Irish, English (who have their own internal problems north/south, east /west, Yorks/Lancs etc), and others from different points of the globe.
Does no one have a sense of humour any more?
A T Geddie.68 Carleton Avenue,Glenrothes.
Just the same, with a curve
Sir, – I’m not surprised that Hilton is not interested in operating the new hotel at Dundee station. It looks like the same box building they already occupy except that it has a curve.
I don’t find it at all ”eyecatching” or a ”stunning landmark”. It looks like some eastern European government building.
Why can’t Dundonians be allowed to vote for the station they would like instead of it being chosen by faceless bureaucrats or ”the scheme’s backers”, whoever they are?
After all, these bureaucrats gave us Tayside House and look what an eyesore that turned out to be.
Frances Wood.34 Gardner Street,Dundee.
Dangerous drivers too
Sir, – It is strange George McMillan was ever taught to wheel his bike in the gutter in heavy city centre traffic, often slower-moving than a cyclist (Letters, April 18). Cyclists now are taught to take centre of lane while in slow-moving traffic or approaching junctions because it is safer to be seen and avoided than ignored and hit.
If roads are too narrow to allow safe overtaking when there is oncoming traffic then it is easier to pass a compact group of cyclists than a long line of them and it avoids the temptation of less responsible drivers to try to squeeze through.
Many cyclists have not been trained, which could explain their bad road use, but I also see many motor vehicles driven badly and dangerously despite drivers having had to sit a driving test and go through training beforehand,
John M Richmond.12 Shamrock Street,Dundee.
Down to greed
Sir, – For John Cameron’s information, all public area pension funds were extremely healthy prior to the banking collapse.
As someone of a similar age to him who worked in local government in a professional capacity I was advised from day one that the reason we were not remunerated in the same way as those performing the same service in the private sector was due to our better pension arrangement.
We are all suffering from a crisis brought about by greed.
C Gibson.21 Redfield Crescent,Dundee.
Great variety
Sir, – On a five-mile section of the M90 Perth/Kinross motorway recently I encountered brilliant and warm sunshine, torrential rain, sleet and a rainbow.
Just to add to the excitement, roadworks reduced traffic to one lane for nearly a mile.
Nothing like Scotland for variety!
John McDonald.14 Rosebery Court,Kirkcaldy.
Get involved: to have your say on these or any other topics, email your letter to letters@thecourier.co.uk or send to Letters Editor, The Courier, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. Letters should be accompanied by an address and a daytime telephone number.