Sir, What is the real significance of Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont’s resignation (Courier, October 25)?
She was not simply the party’s frontperson at Holyrood, she was the first person to be the leader of her party in Scotland.
In the glare of national publicity she has told everyone that she was not, in fact, allowed to be that leader.
There is a warning signal here for Labour and everyone from Ed Miliband to Gordon Brown to Douglas Alexander to Ms Lamont’s potential successors in the Scottish Parliament would be wise to heed it.
It now seems that she was sidelined on a number of counts. She was not allowed to pick the general secretary of the Scottish party.
Westminster MPs fronted the Labour input on tele-vision to the referendum campaign.
Her views on devolution and what Labour should say to the Smith Commission have been diluted. She has been treated politely but firmly by the party hierarchy, almost like the tea lady in the corridors of a large conglomerate.
There can only be one lesson for her party to learn here and it is that Scottish Labour must be given real autonomy or the electoral penalty will be very high.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
We deserve an explanation
Sir, So now we know. Dare to assert yourself against the European Commission, dare to criticise the selection of the new commission president, dare not to join the Eurozone and so avoid the Eurocrisis (along with Hungary, Sweden and the Czechs), demand some reform, then the EU after biding its time will exact revenge.
I am tempted to describe the EU’s stance on this unbelievably stupid matter as classic socialism.
And so British private sector workers (the real taxpayers) are expected to sacrifice more of their hard- earned, prosperity creating income as an increased contribution to EU member-ship. Not to mention all the job losses and suffering.
Ah, we are told, these are the rules and we signed up to them. Well, I think the British public deserves an explanation from someone.
Some Eurozone countries do have bail out monies to repay. To Germany, for example. But not us.
What do the SNP and other EUphiles have to say about this? Have they been hiding something from us, as well? Still want to join? Share this payment?
Perhaps it is all some EU ploy to punish the naughty David. Perhaps we will be given a reduction (!) as well as the others and Germany and France will be given smaller (and preplanned) rebates. Or maybe the EU is just “trying it on” to see how far British determination will go?
Not a good way for a major multi-national government to behave. This sort of behaviour started a major and bloody war 150 years ago. Not to mention an ever increasing, regulation- mad, and controlling, bureaucracy.
Times do not necessarily change. However, if David Cameron succeeds, then it will be good for the Conservatives and bad for UKIP.
A T Geddie. 68 Carleton Avenue, Glenrothes.
It’s not exactly rocket science
Sir, The European Commission has the audacity to demand 2.2 billion euros in extra funding from the UK and gives 1 billion euros to France and 779 million to Germany.
The faceless bureaucrats in Brussels should scrap the ludicrous “second parliament” in Strasbourg and save 1.2 billion over a four-year period.
Not rocket science.
Dan Arnott. St Brycedale Court, Kirkcaldy.
Dismantling of wall says it all
Sir, My heart sank in 2006 when Defence Secretary John Reid announced Britain was once again to invade Afghanistan to “help the Afghans construct their own democracy”.
I knew my soldier son who had already invaded Iraq at Tony Blair’s behest and seen two of his best friends killed in that benighted adventure would be deployed
After eight years, he made it back alive but he left 450 of his comrades in the desert wastes where the former defence secretary had suggested “not a shot would be fired”.
He left an Afghan Government mired in corruption, opium production at record levels and the Taliban, as strong as ever, waiting to return as soon as Western troops leave.
Nothing speaks more clearly of our failure than the memorial wall at Camp Bastion being dismantled and shipped home to stop it being desecrated by “grateful” Afghans.
Rev Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
An irresistible lure for Alex?
Sir, Enoch Powell’s oft-quoted observation that “every political career ends in failure” would appear not to be pertinent in Alex Salmond’s case.
After a political lifetime dedicated to a single cause only to fail disastrously you’d think he’d drift off quietly into the political shadows and enjoy the benefits of his five generous pensions and the proceeds of the inevitable autobiography eagerly awaited by his fervent followers.
But not so, it seems he has set his sights once again, on a seat in his “hated” British Parliament which I think, he probably secretly enjoys more than the “wee pretendy Parliament” of Holyrood, as Billy Connolly once described it.
Of course, he may see himself becoming not only a member of Holyrood but also Westminster, standing astride both houses like a Colossus on the world stage, playing one off against the other or even holding the balance of power and virtually doubling his salary at the same time.
I think he would find this scenario irresistible.
We must hope that he does the decent thing and resign his seat in Holyrood and take his chance with the electorate in Sir Malcolm Bruce’s constituency when he steps down at the next general election in May 2015.
Will he be successful or have a second political career fail even before it has begun?
Time will tell, but the people of his Scottish constituency gave him a convincing rebuff in the referendum and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t reject him again.
However, if he is elected to the British Parliament I expect there will be sighs of relief from his colleagues in Holyrood as they wave him goodbye, while the House of Commons will be waiting, no doubt, to welcome him with open jaws.
Iain G Richmond. Guildy House, Monikie.
Rethink needed on plastic bags
Sir, With regards to the carrier bag charge I find it a bit much now having to pay for “dog poo bags”.
The people who don’t, or have no intention of picking up after their dog, will almost certainly not do it now.
It will make the whole dog mess problem a no-go area for these dog owners and we will now have to face the problem of areas left littered with dog poo becoming a whole lot worse.
There should be a rethink about setting a payment for these bags.
Bob Skelligan. 3 Finlarig Terrace, Dundee.
What do our retailers think?
Sir, With regard to the 5p charge on carrier bags, I do agree with it (very nearly completely), but what if a person buys, say, a coat? Are you still expected to pay the 5p for a bag the shop assistant will promptly put it in?
Or do you just walk out of the shop with it over your arm and hope it’s not raining?
It would be interesting to know the opinions of some of our retailers.
Davina Balfour. Friockheim. by Arbroath.