Sir, The Labour Party in Scotland has just committed suicide. It has committed the cardinal political sin of lying to its own supporters and treating them like half-wits.
In doing so it has just delivered the people of Scotland, and in particular the poor and the vulnerable in our communities, back into the hands of the money men who bankrupted the British economy and the vested interests of the south-of-England Tories the blue ones and the red ones.
It campaigned to give a touch of Scottish credibility to a Tory-funded effort to allow the UK and those who benefit most from it to prosper on the proceeds of Scottish resources while living standards in Scotland plummet and want returns to our communities. There is no escape for it.
The party founded on the principle of Scottish self rule and which provided founder members of the National Party of Scotland and the SNP is consigned by its behaviour over this campaign to the waste basket of history.
The sooner, the better.
Dave McEwan Hill. Dalinlongart, Sandbank, Argyll.
No voters help to kill off NHS
Sir, In their rush to gloat, no voters have failed to realise the danger the NHS finds itself in from the TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership).
When TTIP becomes law, American health companies will swoop like vultures to carve up Scotland’s NHS.
Their lawyers will rightly argue a country cannot have two, different health systems in operation (Scotland having voted to be a region of the UK) and no amount of devolved powers will change this. Still, when the NHS goes belly up, I fully expect no voters to be among the first to complain even though their votes legitimised its demise.
RMF Brown. Markinch, Fife.
Follow that, Ms Sturgeon
Sir, With Nicola Sturgeon now in the running for the SNP leadership, are we to assume her party election policy for 2016 will be run on the basis that the party’s older voters are a burden? And are they prepared to accept that at least 50% plus one be in their favour before they consider the ballot fair and decided, with anything less considered as not to be the sovereign will of the Scottish voters?
For those in the SNP who may think my comments idiotic all I can say is, you’re 100% right but it was Alex Salmond who started this.
Colin Cookson. 37 Hatton Green, Glenrothes.
Yes or no, help Green Party
Sir, On behalf of the Green Yes campaign, I want to thank the 53,620 people in Dundee who voted yes. In the Green campaign, we sought to make the choice about ambition, hope and seizing a unique opportunity. The people of Dundee embraced that message.
I am proud to live in a city where 79% of people showed that they cared enough to make their voice heard. I fervently hope all the readers who have been stirred by the debate will stay stirred and join me in the Scottish Greens, striving for a better Scotland.
Of course, I acknowledge that more people in Scotland voted no than yes and I want to thank you, too, for having a spirited debate and taking part. Over the last few months, we may have had a different view on how best to reach a greener and fairer Scotland but I know many thousands share my sense of urgency on getting to the same destination. I hope you, too, will join us.
With some newspapers little more than propaganda sheets, The Courier was scrupulously balanced and treated readers like adults. Your team of journalists is an example for others to follow.
Pauline Hinchion. Co-convener, Dundee Green Party.
A monstrous stance to take
Sir, Alex Salmond the least gracious of losers, who refused even to attend a service of national reconciliation claims the British prime minister “should hang his head in shame”.
David Cameron’s faux pas was to have “allowed” a few words with New York’s ex-mayor, Michael Bloomberg, as they walked to a meeting to be picked up by a hidden mike. He evidently hinted at the Queen’s relief when told her beloved United Kingdom was not to be broken up, which is hardly a surprise and certainly not a state secret.
Her Majesty remained strictly above the referendum fray but was herself “caught out” suggesting her subjects think “very carefully” before voting.
The prime minister is a man of indisputable charm and I doubt he has much to learn about protocol or courtesy from someone whose own officials called the First Monster.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Spending will mean savings
Sir, I heard Angus Council is concerned about the cost of keeping people in care homes.
Surely the best way of saving money is to keep people safely in their own homes and the best way of doing this is to reverse the cuts made to the funding of Angus Care and Repair.
This would have the added advantage of reducing admissions to A&E by helping to prevent falls.
Dr Betty Cohen. Retired chairman, Age Concern Angus, Aberlemno, Forfar.