Sir, I write to express the sense of shame and disappointment I feel for the Westminster system and some areas of the media.
The leak by mandarins in Whitehall, or the Scottish Office under Alistair Carmichael, that claimed Nicola Sturgeon wants David Cameron to remain as Prime Minister was well supported by sections of the media and was nothing short of shameful.
There has been a certain amount of ‘jockaphobia’ creeping in to this election, with words like ‘insurgent’ and ‘separatist’ used when mentioning elected SNP members at Westminster.
These are usually words associated with terrorist groups such as Boko Haram or al Qaida.
I make no apology for supporting the SNP but it rankles that some in the media persist in these descriptions of the party and its supporters. I don’t mind being called a bit revolutionary but being compared to a terrorist is stretching the bounds of reasonable language.
So come on Westminster and the media, play the game in a fair and equal manner. That’s all the people want from you and on May 8 we can say it was a fair election.
Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage, Ardargie, Perth.
A step in the right direction
Sir, I write to welcome new laws passed to allow the integration of Scotland’s health and social care services.
In theory, this could potentially have a very welcome and significant impact on older people. The two realms are so intertwined that a single point for care coordination makes perfect sense and should help prevent people slipping through the cracks.
We would also encourage these public agencies to work alongside the voluntary sector and, in particular, look at the wider issues facing older people. Our charity, Contact the Elderly, supports more than 750 older people in Scotland who are over the age of 75 and have suffered, or are at risk of suffering, social isolation.
Loneliness among our ageing population is something that is set to increase and the ramifications are clear to see, through poor mental and physical health which places pressure on the NHS, as well as a significant demand on already overstretched social work departments.
Finding ways for the public and voluntary sectors to most effectively support our rapidly ageing population is a pressing need, and this latest streamlining of health and social services is certainly a step in the right direction.
Valerie Crookston. Scotland Executive Officer, Contact the Elderly, George Street, Edinburgh.
Mysteries of dark matter
Sir, Scientists at the Large Hadron Collider at Cern are now engaged in the search for dark matter, an arcane phenomenon that may fill, or make-up, space.
Perhaps in time (another undetermined phenomenon), scientists may find dark matter to be an endless succession of presently hidden dimensions, with ourselves just passing through.
If other dimensions are eventually proven to exist, we may all be in for a few surprises!
Kenneth Miln. 22 Fothringham Drive, Monifieth
Election double dipper trouble
Sir, As the final day registering of names of those who will be running for Parliamentary seats at the General Election draws close, it will be interesting to see how many of the expectant candidates fully intend to be participants in the double dipping regime .
For those not au fait with what a double dipper is, it’s a person who holds one elected position, then seeks a second elected position and goes on to hold both jobs, together with both pay packets, pension accruements etc.
To put it in a rather less refined tone they want to earn from two seats but unfortunately, like us, only have one bum.
The former First Minister for Scotland was expert at the ruse.
Once again we will have some who are solely “in it for the money” or again, to be less refined, those who say “I’m doing it to make the world a better place” but in reality they mean “I’m doing it for me”.
Colin Cookson, Glenrothes
Time for Clarkson?
Sir, The forthcoming general election is a potential disaster.
The thought of the SNP assisting Labour with policy is terrifying.
In the past 36 years Labour have twice reduced the UK to near bankruptcy with their economic and social illiteracy, while the SNP, with no experience of economic management whatsoever, have a similar spendthrift attitude.
If the Conservatives prevail, the SNP have an opportunity to further agitate for a situation that will destroy the UK.
Ukip and the Liberals have their own agendas to pursue, as have the Greens.
So how are the needs of the electorate to be served in this stramash of self-interest?
Who will actually be steering the ship?
I think I see an opportunity for Jeremy Clarkson….
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood Kinross.
Disbelief over ospreys
Sir, I cannot believe the ongoing situation at Strathallan regarding the Ospreys.
Since they returned they have been bringing sticks back to the nest. For the resident ornithologist to say that “the nest is not active” is beyond belief.
I have in past years been a volunteer nest watcher. Many hours have been spent watching and protecting osprey nests from intruders and anything/body causing a disturbance.
Ospreys are a protected species and my understanding of protection is safeguarding and defending.
The use of a cherry-picker, complete with two men and flags waving about, is certainly in my view a disturbance. I appreciate the cherry-picker has at long last been removed but it took far too long for that to happen.
Ospreys return to the same nest year after year and after the beating taken by the winter climate, the first arrival gets straight into restoring the nest.
I’m sure the new nest that was spoken about was “lovely” but what does that mean to a bird of prey? It is not the nest they have used in past years and would probably be used by another pair who have their own nest.
In my hours of observing and protecting these birds, I have been privileged to experience successful as well as failed nests. But even if the nest failed, at least the fault lay with Mother Nature and not uncalled-for interference.
I trust Perth and Kinross Council will think seriously about its decision and I hope the RSPB will be more proactive and actually make its voice heard and “give nature a home”.
Marjorie Edgar, Caldwell Acre, Kingskettle
Typical behaviour of nesting birds
Sir, I have watched the video showing the osprey pair at their nest on the Strathallan Castle estate and there’s absolutely no doubt we’re watching the typical behaviour of ospreys who have just returned to their breeding site.
We even see the male osprey doing his courtship dance, known as sky-dancing, where he soars high into the air, then plummets down towards the nest.
Throughout this display, he makes a distinctive high-pitched call, which, once heard, will never be forgotten.
This male is re-establishing his bond with the female and bringing in sticks to the nest is part of his “duties” as a prospective father of her chicks.
The RSPB has said it does not doubt the legitimacy of the video. A T in the Park spokeswoman is quoted as saying that it “does not correspond with the ongoing monitoring from our ornithologist on-site”.
This discrepancy has only two possible explanations either the video shows a different osprey nest, or the on-site ornithologist is extremely short-sighted and deaf.
Carolyn Taylor, Gagiebank, Wellbank, Broughty Ferry
New death views
Sir – Scientists working on the Large Hadron Collider seem to be confident of being able to expand our understanding of dark matter before much longer, the determination of which may significantly alter our concept of the universe.
Parallel development in biochemistry should, all going well, bring about further changes, together with enhanced lifestyles.
Even what is presently looked upon as death could be merely a transitional phenomenon where consciousness of self-existence continues into “other dimensions”.
Although this may seem a comforting thought to some of us, it should be borne in mind that such transitions may not always prove agreeable or positive.
To quote from the Bible, John 14-2, “In my father’s (God) house are many mansions”. Perhaps the word mansions could be replaced by dimensions.
Kenneth Miln, Fothringham Drive, Monifieth
Call this a recovery?
Sir, Forgive me if I sneer at claims of an “economic recovery”.
As I understand it, the Tory “plan” involves borrowing around a further £40 billion per annum for the next four years, to service interest payments on the truly colossal national debt.
In the meantime, foodbanks are multiplying like rabbits, while bank branches fold, workers are struggling on zero hour contracts and political nonentities totter happily into the House of Lords to uplift their £300 a day.
If this is a recovery, please spare us from a relapse.
Joseph G Miller, Gardeners St, Dunfermline