Sir, Your letters pages on Wednesday could be said to have been slightly biased in favour of a “yes” vote in the independence referendum. Five letters, all embracing the “yes” cause, took up all of the first page, yet there can be no shortage of “Better Together” letters. I know there are several of mine still unpublished.
There have also been pronouncements from bankers and business leaders recently and The Courier reports on the speeches on Scottish independence bear little resemblance to the same reports in the other daily paper I buy. Both papers seem to lack objectivity and impartiality in their news presentation.
News reporting should be factual and opinions confined to leader columns and staff members’ articles. The Courier’s reports are definitely biased towards the “yes” campaign.
The way voting in the referendum has been arranged is also biased. On an important constitutional issue like independence, no change should be permitted unless it has the support of more than 50% of those eligible to vote, not just of those who vote. If this rule had been applied on the referendum for a Scottish Parliament, that costly institution would not now exist.
It is also weird that a person born and raised in Scotland, but now living in England or abroad should be denied a vote.
Our daughter lives in Dorset and has been trying to persuade us for years to move down there near her. If we had done so and although I am Dundee-born and educated and have worked most of my life in Scotland, I could not have voted in the referendum.
Andy Murray, of whom we Scots are justly proud and regard as a great ambassador for Scotland, will not be allowed a vote. On the other hand, a Swedish friend with only a Swedish passport no British passport who has lived in the UK for 30 years and now lives in Scotland will be able to vote on whether Scotland should be independent or not.
George K McMillan. 5 Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.
Better Together favoured?
Sir, The Courier is to be congratulated on running an online poll that asks: Has the media been biased during the independence referendum campaign?
The question posed being in reference to academic research into referendum broadcasting by Prof John Robertson of University of the West of Scotland that concluded: “The mainstream TV coverage of the first year of the independence referendum campaigns has not been fair or balanced. Taken together, we have evidence of coverage which seems likely to have damaged the ‘yes’ campaign.”
Although self-selecting, the result of The Courier poll could not be more conclusive, 70% of the 1500 respondents indicated that the media have been biased towards the Better Together campaign. This will not come as surprise to many but it is a direct challenge to the often repeated claim by the media that they have been balanced and fair.
In particular, Prof John Robertson has given academic flesh to public bones that the media have intentionally personalised the referendum debate by demonising Alex Salmond in order to damage the “yes” campaign.
The follow up question is: What are the media going to do about it?
Are newspapers like The Courier going to stop and review their reporting of the referendum?
Malcolm McCandless. 40 Muirfield Crescent, Dundee.
Perhaps he should reflect
Sir, It would appear Mr Miller has a less than charitable disposition toward those who, though sharing this island, are outwith Scotland.
Perhaps he should reflect that 19% of Scottish private sector jobs arise from companies located elsewhere in the UK. Better together? You bet.
Alan Shepherd. 38 Manor Street, Forfar.
The answeris obvious
Sir, Brian Townsend asks why the SNP government considers Scottish 16 and 17- year-olds suitably mature and politically experienced to vote in the referendum, but still need a state appointed guardian until they are 18.
They need a guardian until they are 18 to protect them from unscrupulous adults who would exploit them, and utilise their youthful enthusiasm, idealism and political innocence for their own ends. Exactly the reasons the SNP government want them to vote in the referendum.
(Captain) Ian F McRae. 17 Broomwell Gardens, Monikie.
Not good enough
Sir, Since the beginning of this great national debate Reporting Scotland has consistently attempted to make a mockery of the “yes” campaign using cheap off-the-cuff haggis and Braveheart remarks when interviewing “yes” supporters and the First Minister.
Is this really the kind of behaviour we want to see from our public servicebroadcaster?
Andrew Wells. Bonnybank Road, Dundee.
Meetings to suit public
Sir, While not representing Charles Webster of Broughty Ferry, I am one of an increasing number of councillors who do not hold surgeries. I take the view that, in an era when almost every-one has a phone and many use email, why should I drag a member of the public out, often in the cold and dark, at a time and to a place of my choosing?
Instead, I make it widely known that I will meet constituents where and when it suits them. And I do.
Councillor Dave Dempsey. Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay and Aberdour Ward.