Sir, Holyrood rarely attracts praise however the passage of the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Scotland) Bill was unquestionably one of its finest moments.
MSPs braved pressure and personal threats from a highly organised lobby to bring in a law balancing religious freedom of conscience and the right of gay couples to marry.
The fact is Scotland could not claim to be a progressive nation rooted in freedom and equality while denying marriage equality and that aberration has now been removed.
Religious groups which still equate gay love with sin will not be compelled to perform same-sex marriages but they must not be allowed to prevent others from so doing. As a minister of the Kirk I intend to perform such marriages if asked and look forward with interest to appearing at my trial for heresy before some future General Assembly.
Rev Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
Another one bites the dust?
Sir, It was recently reported that a spokesman for BAE Systems announced that it has no intention of leaving the Clyde in the event of a “Yes” vote in the coming independence referendum; confirmed that a move to England will not take place and that no facility to build warships exists elsewhere in Britain.
He further stated that the company is presently examining the possible construction of a multi-million pound purpose-built facility for warship building at Scotstoun. This has been largely ignored by the mass media for some strange reason.
As this announcement causes another pillar to collapse from the “Temple of Despair”, built by the shoogly alliance of Better Together, is it possible that the trumpets will sound and Alistair Carmichael’s border posts will disappear into the Scots mist, the EU will not cast Scotland into oblivion and a thunderbolt of pragmatism will strike the Westminster government who will then decide that it is bad politics to inflict huge financial costs on English businesses dealing with Scotland by denying Scotland the use of the pound?
It is high time that a sensible conversation took place on both sides of the debate and that the Better Together campaign stopped treating the Scottish people to ridiculous, scaremongering scenarios which do not do their cause any favours.
L Liney. 8 Knockard Crescent, Pitlochry.
Co-ordinated approach
Sir, I’m writing with reference to your story, Battle begins to save Bannockburn Live festival (February 3). I would like to reassure your readers that while VisitScotland are now leading on the Bannockburn Live event due to take place in June, the reasons cited in the article are incorrect.
In fact, this simple change in management is because of the packed programme of activity scheduled in Stirling from 27 – 30 June. VisitScotland, as the organisation overseeing Homecoming, is perfectly placed to ensure a co-ordinated approach across the whole weekend.
Reviewing the Bannockburn Live programme in order to ensure it dovetails with the rest of Stirling’s programme was the right thing to do at this stage before the significant marketing and ticket sales efforts got under way.
It had always been planned to begin the most intense promotional activities for the event from February onwards.
The trust is working with its partners through a joint liaison group to ensure that these events are a success and that Stirling is the place to be in June 2014.
Peter Selman. Director of Strategic Development, National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, Edinburgh.
Not the same thing at all
Sir, In the introduction to the publication Scotland’s Future, on page i, it states “that decision will be taken by the people of Scotland” the people who live here. No argument. Also, decisions will be taken by the people who care most about Scotland. Could be true.
Then on page xi, within the same paragraph, the people of Scotland are also called the Scottish people. This assumes that these phrases mean exactly the same. I disagree.
The “people of Scotland” includes every eligible voter living in or out of Scotland: Scottish, English, Polish, Czech, Italian, Chinese a very long list, but essentially, all adults living in Scotland, including me. The Scottish people include those who were born in Scotland, who look upon themselves as Scots, but who may live in or out of Scotland.
Those living away cannot be included in the referendum vote, that is understood, but they are still Scottish people.
There may be more Scots living outside Scotland than in this country. Or the reverse might be true. That is not the point. If they are Scots, they are Scottish people, even if they are not resident Scots.
I am English, sent to work in Scotland by my British company. I married a Scot, our children were born in Scotland and most of our family still live here. But, perhaps regretfully, I am not a Scottish person. However, the three members of the family now living “out of Scotland” are still Scots. They are Scottish people.
My plea to our politicians, Scottish, English or British, is to keep these two expressions, albeit grammatically correct, quite separate and distinct. In 20 years’ time it may be less important, but for now, for the next two or three years, do not consider them interchangeable.
Guy Willoughby. 6 Brough Way, Perth.