Sir, I find it astonishing that anyone in Scotland, or the wider UK, might give any credence whatsoever to anything that former Prime Minister (and Chancellor of the Exchequer) Gordon Brown has to say about pensions and pensioners, or in relation to the wider fiscal management of the country.
This is, after all, the man who, at one level, blithely raided the various pension funds of their built up investments, leaving a legacy of hardship and despair, and, at another level, dismissively referred to a female Labour-supporting pensioner as a “bigot” but not, of course, to her face.
He is also the senior “political heavyweight” who bankrolled illegal wars, flogged the UK’s gold reserves for “peanuts” and who, in tandem with Alistair Darling, almost bankrupted Britain through fiduciarial incompetence.
Furthermore, nearer to home here in Fife, he sacrificed the Dunfermline Building Society (rather than emulate his “rescue” of the Newcastle-based Northern Rock Building Society) and failed to commission any effective action on the Dalgety Bay radiation problem while occupying the most powerful office in the land.
Even now, he rarely attends parliament and is equally rarely active in his constituency. He does, however, find sufficient time to tour continuously around the world on the lucrative lecture trail extolling well-heeled audiences of his “post-politician” era exploits and, just occasionally, stops by in Scotland to lecture us on how everyone elsewhere does all things altogether better.
Brian McGarry. 37 Preston Crescent, Inverkeithing.
Need to show more respect for each other
Sir, Oh dear, and so the vendetta against cyclists continues (G K Macmillan, They should be charged, Wednesday’s letters).
I am a motorist, pedestrian and cyclist, the last-mentioned being my preferred method of getting from A to B. There will always be inconsiderate cyclists, just as there are inconsiderate motorists and pedestrians. However, cyclists and pedestrians don’t kill people but motorists do, and with worrying frequency.
Cycling on our roads is fraught with danger the main reason given by people as to why they choose not to cycle.
Dedicated cycle lanes frequently have dangerous obstructions in them in the shape of parked cars making it understandable, albeit illegal, why cyclists may use adjacent paths to avoid dodging in and out of the flow of traffic.
All that said, and not wanting to start a cyclists’ vendetta again motorists, I suggest that we should all show more respect and consideration towards our fellow travellers, regardless of their mode of transport, and our roads and pavements might become safer places as a result.
Valerie Nelson. 49 Craigie Road, Perth.
They deserve our support
Sir, Thank you for your article, VAT plea for mountain rescue, April 18. I would like to express my support for the MEP George Lyon in his efforts to establish full VAT exemption for our rescue services.
I cannot understand why this has not been agreed before, given that they provide such an important and dedicated service for those many people who come to grief in exploring our hills and mountains.
As someone who has walked in these areas throughout my life, I think we are very lucky to have such people who volunteer their services, often endangering their own lives and safety, and think they should receive maximum support from UK and EU bodies.
Alastair I Stuart. Old Station House, Friockheim.
Divorce will not be easy
Sir, I was one of many young Scots who started their professional life by going to London and returning with an English spouse to spend the rest of their career in Scotland.
So I find it hard to relate to the separatists’ description of England as foreign oppressor being more aware of our united history, common values and shared ideals.
The sheer practical difficulties of divorcing our partners of 300 years loom large in my mind when I recall the horrors endured by friends who walked out of their marriages.
The implication that it will be easy is wholly dishonest and I have yet to meet anyone prepared to say they believe separation is worth a nightmare decade of disruption.
Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
It might save lives . . .
Sir, While watching an American police story I heard that anyone in the state of Georgia caught with cannabis for a second time was automatically given a one-year jail sentence.
This may seem harsh to some people but if authorities here took a tougher approach to the drug problem then I am sure that many addicts’ lives might well be saved.
George Aimer. 82 Kinghorne Road, Dundee.