Sir, In France they know a thing or two about vigorous debate and revolutionary change. So we should take note when one of its newspapers comments on the debate about Scotland’s future.
Le Figaro says that the “stand-off” between nationalists and unionists has only just begun (Courier, November 28). I wonder what they would have made of two late night television debates on the matter on Thursday. I flicked back and forth from BBC’s Newsnight Scotland to a Referendum Special on STV. On one, Labour’s Johann Lamont was vying with the SNP’s John Swinney and on the other Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon did battle with Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael.
I can only despair at what will happen to the quality of debate as the campaign really heats up. These encounters had a number of features: constant and sometimes futile interruptions, contempt for the intelligence of opponents, clear breaches of the rules that had previously been agreed, poor chairmanship from some of the key broadcasters involved and the participants more concerned for their own egos than information for the viewers.
It was the sort of thing that gave point scoring a really bad name. The television networks need to develop a clear set of rules for the conduct of these set-piece confrontations.
Surely both sides should realise that voters will be turned off completely by this sort of acrimony. Civilised debate ought to be one of the hallmarks of a civilised nation.
Bob Taylor. 24 Shiel Court, Glenrothes.
The situation would resolve itself
Sir, Once again we have been told by straight-faced EU officials that immigration benefits this country because immigrants “pay more in income tax than they take in benefits”.
However, if immigrants were not here, many currently unemployed people would take those jobs, pay the same (or more) income tax and at the same time stop drawing state benefits.
Any marginal increases in wages at lower levels needed to persuade unemployed people to work, reasonable in any case, would be more than covered by savings across the board that could in turn reduce taxes and boost the economy.
Easing housing and schooling shortages, future health care and pensions liabilities, and congestion are amongst the many other benefits of rational policies available to us only outside the economic madhouse that is the European Union.
Idris Francis. Church Lane, West Meon, Petersfield, Hampshire.
EU fine threat now sounds worthless
Sir, David Cameron has said he will restrict access to benefits for EU migrants.
He may not be able to get it all in place before the economic migration tsunami from Romania and Bulgaria hits our shores but it might serve as a warning of even stricter controls to come.
Within hours of this crackdown France and Germany sensationally followed suit with similar plans.
Germany said that poverty migration from new EU countries was causing considerable social problems.
Francois Hollande said that the “social dumping” of people from poor Eastern European states was a threat to the economic and social fabric of France.
The threats of the unaccountable corrupt EU to fine Britain sounds worthless now that France and Germany are on-board. Britain pays £57 million every day to the EU so threatening to stop this would be a trump card. If France and Germany do the same then “game over”.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Need to be taken with a pinch of salt
Sir, The latest revelations over Scotland’s continued membership within the EU if it gains independence have come in for a ferocious attack from the Better Together campaign.
It does seem strange that EU President Manuel Barrosso’s, earlier statement saying that “there may be a problem of Scotland remaining within the EU”, was later ‘withdrawn’ via the statement “there should be no problem on an independent Scotland remaining within the EU”.
It shows signs of political manipulation by some outside forces in their determination to keep Scotland in the union.
Now we have Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy and his cabinet capitulating over a deal on Gibraltar with Westminster (a problem that will inevitably resume after the Scottish referendum) and an utterance of an independent Scotland once again having to reapply for membership of the EU.
Could this be because the Basque Country within Spain’s borders also seeks independence?
These utterances from the Westminster and Spanish Governments need to be taken with a pinch of salt, methinks.
Bob Harper. 63a Pittenweem Road, Anstruther.