Sir, I have to take issue with Robert IG Scott’s rather jaundiced synopsis of the current political position in Scotland (Letters, June 5).
I would remind him that the SNP haven’t just snuck up on people, they have been around for some 80 years.
Furthermore, they have won the last two elections to the Scottish Parliament he only reluctantly gives title to. He asserts that 30% control the “rest of us”, yet the SNP and Alex Salmond won a crushing victory in 2011 with 45% of the vote. Even now their popularity far exceeds any other political party on this island even after six years of government.
The reason is because they’re doing a better job than anyone else. If there weren’t three self-interested mainstream unionist parties in Scotland putting the fear of death into the population over independence, we could have had it years ago.
Does he really think the SNP are the only party to chop and change policies? That’s what politicians and their parties do is it not?
Weren’t the Labour Party socialists once upon a time? The Liberal Democrats haven’t always been opportunistic Tories either. They have managed to betray most of the fundamental principles in their constitution and, well, Tories are Tories.
The situation that can’t be allowed to continue isn’t Mr Scott’s mythical silent majority staying at home, it is the status quo.
Scotland has received the short end of the stick from Westminster. We have been deceived for too long. It is maintaining this failed, out of date union that would be disastrous, not independence.
Thank goodness as every day passes more can see that the best people to run this country are the people who live here, not the self-interested inhabitants of Westminster.
BJW Macfarlane. 10 Beck Crescent, Dunfermline.
Progress has been made
Sir, Your article, Stirling failing to protect children (May 30) is misleading. The Care Inspectorate summary referred to relates to a previous Child Protection Inspection carried out at the council in 2010.
Following that inspection the council took immediate steps to address the areas of concern highlighted by the inspectorate. In the follow-through inspection in 2011 inspectors noted good progress in implementing improvements.
A further external inspection was carried out in the first half of 2012 (the ISLA inspection) and was reported to the council last summer.
Again, good progress on all improvement actions was recognised including: the pre-birth planning service ensuring multi-agency systems of support are available for vulnerable pregnant women and their families; the co-location of police, social work, health and education staff within the Forth Valley Public Protection Service enhancing effective communication and a more timeous response to child protection referrals and enhanced transition programmes for vulnerable young people moving to secondary schools.
The council has just completed a robust self-evaluation in partnership with the Care Inspectorate which will be reported to the social care and health committee in the near future.
Cllr Christine Simpson. Social Care and Health Convener, Stirling Council.
What is ‘green’ about this?
Sir, Scotland’s largest biomass power plant has inconceivably been granted planning permission by the Scottish Government despite huge opposition (The Courier, June 4).
The plant at Grangemouth will burn more than a million tonnes of trees every year and they will be imported from America. The carbon footprint from the destruction of the trees and shipping will be horrendous. For every tree cut down a new one will take 20 years to grow. What is “green” about this biomass plant?
Dr Richard Dixon of Friends of Earth and formerly with WWF said: “This decision reveals major confusion within the Scottish Government who previously set out clear, strong reasons not to use biomass for large-scale projects.”
For the first time ever I agree with Dr Dixon.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Need integrity, not tolerance
Sir, Ron Aitken (June 4) writes in support of the Dali Lama’s urge for “mutual tolerance and understanding between believers of whatever faith”. I’m sure this can’t be the whole quote but in any case, tolerance of belief is not good in itself.
I could not be tolerant of the beliefs of members of the Nazi Party or the Ku Klux Klan. I recognise that their beliefs conflict with mine and that at some point those beliefs will be played out in actions that I don’t agree with.
The Courier reported on Girlguiding Scotland’s 2013 Annual Event in Dundee at the weekend. Last year Julia Bentley was appointed chief executive of Girlguiding UK. Prior to this, Ms Bentley ran FPA (formerly known as the Family Planning Association) for five years a campaign group supporting abortion rights and sex education.
I know families who hold beliefs that conflict with the beliefs of Julia Bentley and, despite their very positive attitudes to Girlguiding UK as a whole, have taken their daughters out of Girlguiding UK following her appointment. Like me, they recognise that conflicting beliefs can’t always be tolerated.
They recognise that tolerance of belief is not good in itself and that only those beliefs we believe to be good should be tolerated. Perhaps Mr Aitken might encourage people to have a little less tolerance and more integrity.
Clare McGraw. 12a Castle Terrace, Broughty Ferry.