Sir, – I see your columnist Alex Salmond has joined the long list of pious politicians condemning Fifa/Sepp Blatter for being: “mired in seemingly endless scandal and now having the Feds on the cases of his key lieutenants” (June 1).
Fair enough but the real scandal of Fifa is that the 2022 World Cup will be held in Qatar under the repressive regime run by the Al Thani dynasty, which has ruled with an iron fist since 1825.
Construction work on the stadia in Qatar is by cheap migrant labour working in abominable conditions where a death occurs every two days, with the result that by the time of the World Cup there are likely to be more stadia construction fatalities than there are footballers contesting the Fifa finals.
This, and not the alleged bribery of a few Fifa officials, is the real scandal and it is not as if the migrant workers can seek help from Qatari politicians as there is no independent legislature and political parties are forbidden.
So if Mr Salmond really wants Mr Blatter to resign, a good move might be to withdraw the SFA’s invitation to play Scotland in our capital city.
That may not burst Blatter’s ball, as Mr Salmond puts it, but it might cause him to insist on better conditions of Fifa-related construction workers in Qatar; no bad thing and might, just might, be seen as a principled political first step that others may take up.
Tom Minogue. 94 Victoria Terrace, Dunfermline.
leak outlook for energy
Sir, – When will we have enough windmills?
While travelling between Dundee and Huntly I was amazed to see just how many of them there are now.
Every bit of hillside seems to be covered with them. You can’t miss them. They litter the landscape.
Has this become the only way to produce electricity?
In the past we have built some great hydro schemes which blend in well with our landscape and even attract visitors to see them.
With many homes now much better insulated and the availability of solar panels, do we really need to be going windmill daft?
Take a bit of pride in our landscape and stop spoiling it please.
Jim Smith. South Inchmichael, Errol.
Criminalise turbine spin
Sir, – The United Kingdom Government intends to end subsidies for onshore wind, although it will discuss with the Scottish Government before applying it here.
Predictably, the propaganda machine for the wind industry, Renewable UK, said: “singling out one of the most popular and lowest-cost forms of energy technology is worrying and sends out the wrong message to investors”.
Using the words “popular” and “lowest cost” when our energy bills have rocketed because of wind subsidies should be a criminal offence.
Dan Arnott. 1 St Brycedale Court, Kirkcaldy.
Looming split over subsidies
Sir, – It is encouraging to note that the Conservatives pledged in their manifesto to “end any new public subsidy” for onshore wind farms.
However, the Queen’s Speech indicated that the UK Government intend to end subsidies for onshore wind but would consult with the Scottish Government before applying it to Scottish turbines.
What is there to consult on?
At present, the cost of wind farm subsidies is spread across the whole of the United Kingdom through levies on energy bills.
Scotland is far more saturated with turbines than England.
If Scotland is allowed to continue with these subsidies then those living in England will unwittingly subsidise SNP Scotland’s fetish for wind turbines.
The SNP keep preaching that Scotland should be independent, so if they want this, then Scotland’s electricity consumers can pay for the subsidies for Scottish turbines leaving the rest of the UK with far cheaper energy bills.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Planning Aid education role
Sir, – With regard to Crematorium Human Rights Battle (June 1) I would like to clarify how Planning Aid Scotland and its services are represented in your article.
Rather than being a law charity, Planning Aid Scotland is an educational charity and strictly non-campaigning.
Planning Aid Scotland is one of a group of nominated organisations which can refer its advice service clients to the Faculty of Advocates’ Free Legal Services Unit based in Edinburgh, whose members may choose to provide written advice, and potentially subsequent representation, to eligible individuals or community groups.
I would emphasise that advice given by Planning Aid Scotland is based on policy and strictly impartial.
We do not act on anyone’s behalf but rather encourage members of the public and community groups to engage positively in the places they live and with the planning system.
We do this through offering a free planning advice service but we are equally involved in raising awareness of young people about their rights to be involved in their local area and delivering large-scale Charretteplus community engagement projects.
Petra Biberbach. Chief Executive, Planning Aid Scotland, 125 Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Publish details of French chat
Sir, – I could not agree more with your correspondent Colin Cookson (June 1) who called for the publication of some details of the conversation between Nicola Sturgeon and the French ambassador.
Surely a transcript, full or partial, of the First Minister’s discussion with the French diplomat would clear up the mystery at the centre of the Alistair Carmichael affair?
Hold on though. The Scottish National Party are not overly fond of this freedom of information malarkey.
Similarly, your correspondents Robert Anderson, Alasdair. Maclean and R H L Mulheron make good points with regard to the bully boy tactics used should anyone’s no-thanks persuasion become known.
We are now a state governed by a single-issue, nationalist party who oblige new members to swear allegiance and not question the party in any way?
What is not to like?
Alan Shepherd. Manor Street, Forfar.
Legal action hysteria by SNP
Sir, – Since the Alistair Carmichael affair erupted I have been astounded by the apparent double standards the Scottish National Party have displayed.
Now SNP supporters have raised a legal action at the Court of Session to overturn the election of Mr Carmichael, not for political reasons you understand, but because of the ethics of a Member of Parliament telling a lie.
The news item where those raising the action claimed it had nothing to do with politics left me in hysterics.
Who on earth do they think they are kidding?
The SNP and its supporters are no different from any other political party in that they will say and do anything if it gets their candidate elected.
I suppose we should thank our lucky stars that those raising the action are not standing for election.
Tony Brunton. Bellfield Mill Cottage, Kinross.
Challenging journalism
Sir, – Integrity is everything in politics as it should be in journalism.
Regrettably, some just do not measure up.
I was, therefore, delighted to read the article by Jenny Hjul (May 27) in defence of Alistair Carmichael MP and delineating in clear terms what his detractors were doing and why they were doing it.
I have only recently been following Ms Hjul’s articles.
How refreshing it is to have a journalist who is not a Liberal Democrat, Tory or Labour supporter but one who values her profession in as much that she is courageous enough to challenge the tide of arid nationalism.
It would be a better world if there were more like her.
Harry Wills. Feus House, Kedlock Feus, Cupar.
Make use of Lesser hall
Sir, – Councillor Ian Miller, leader of the Perth and Kinross Council does not want public money spent on the running of a revived Perth City Hall according to his letter of May 30.
But there remains the question of funding for the council’s preferred option of a civic square to replace this historic building.
Some estimates have put this figure at upwards of £4 million after the demolition of the city hall, a listed building currently under the protection of Historic Scotland.
Moreover, how could public finances possibly be improved if, as is inevitable, the protracted demolition porgramme and civic square building project leads to commerical losses from collapsing retail businesses in the already ailing city centre?
It would be far, far better to revive Perth City Hall by developing new business there, supplementing the town’s attractions by using the Lesser City Hall as a community centre.
This could include space for many paying functions as originally planned and realised over very many years until, a decade ago, when the city hall was closed down by deliberate council policy.
Isabel and Charles Wardrop. 111 Viewlands Road West, Perth.