Scotsman Letters: Swinney wrong to condemn all Reform supporters as 'racist'
You can be Reform without being racist, says reader
The word “racist” is more and more being used to label people who don’t conform to a left-wing agenda. John Swinney is the latest to refer to Reform supporters as racist. I am looking forward to seeing how many votes these so-called racists get in the May election.
So what is a racist? A racist is defined as a person who believes one race is better than another.
I do not believe one race is better than another. I consider all races equal. This does not mean that I want to live in a country where another race inflicts its beliefs in an attempt to change our country’s traditional values. Our elected leaders should respect this view. Currently our leaders in Westminster and Holyrood are not strong enough to uphold this principle, and choose to chase votes instead. Other cultures are welcome, but not to try to dominate and change our way of life.
If my beliefs are classed as racist it’s a sad day.
Jack Thomson Carluke, South Lanarkshire
Protect hares
The Scotsman report about a Fife falconer winning a change in the law only told one side of the story (24 March). Falconry was never under threat, as suggested.
In the debate in parliament it was pointed out that falconry businesses can already be licensced to take mountain hares for the purposes of science, research, education and photography. What the amendment, disturbingly, means is that falconry itself can now be given as a purpose. I’m sure most readers would agree sport or entertainment should never be a reason to cause animals to suffer.
The original legislation was introduced following years of effort by OneKind, Scotland’s animal campaigns charity. It helped end mass-scale killings of mountain hares, a species that had suffered decades of persecution.
In the report Barry Blyther of Elite Falconry stated that falconry is considered living human heritage by Unesco – this is not quite correct. It is indeed listed, but not in relation to the UK, which has yet to draw up an inventory of intangible culture heritage. I would also point out that the code of ethics being used to determine inclusion states that living heritage should not place animals at risk of fear, distress, pain, injury or death.
Every mountain hare has a right to live free from suffering caused by human activity. The incoming government and parliament will have an opportunity to correct this misstep and stand up for Scotland's wild animals.
Jason Rose, Chief executive, OneKind, Livingston, West Lothian
Bad idea
John Swinney is going into the Scottish election telling us a vote for the SNP is a vote for independence, but is that really what we want?
Isolated on the east coast of the Atlantic, out of the UK, out of the EU, with every likelihood of a hard border between us and England, and little more than an occasional ferry to Dunkirk our contact with Europe (when the operator can find some fuel).
Can Mr Swinney explain how this scenario will boost employment and increase production?
He will have to rely on the votes of tens of thousands of benefits claimants to keep him in his job as First Minister of the benefits capital of Europe. Why would the EU want that in their Union, what's in it for them? The EU has more than enough economic problems of its own just now, why would they want to inherit more from us?
No, now is not the time to go it alone, maybe in ten or 20 years, let's see where we stand then.
Bruce Proctor. Newtonhill, Kincardineshire
Laughable affair
I concur fully with the comments by Jane Lax about Holyrood’s parliamentary question time (Letters, 25 March). I remember my first, and last, visit. I entered with an excitable pride and left in disgust.
Questions were answered only by pre-prepared civil servants’ statements. Indeed, laughably on one occasion, the first minister answered the wrong question. May I suggest we abandon the current position of informing the “enemy” of an attack?
Lewis Finnie, Edinburgh
Poor connection
If the interview with Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride on Radio 4’s Today programme yesterday morning (25 March) showed anything it is that it is fundamentally illogical that UK electricity prices are pegged to gas when more than half of power generated comes from low-cost renewables.
This absurdity stems from a “marginal pricing” system, where the most expensive generator required – typically gas – sets the price for all electricity, including nearly free wind or solar power. Consequently, UK consumers pay premium rates for cheap, home-grown energy whenever gas prices spike, creating a “fossil-fuel rollercoaster”.
This creates high windfall profits for renewable generators while placing a severe burden on households during global gas crises. In 2024, while wind and solar accounted for over 50 per cent of generation, the market design failed to reflect this, resulting in higher-than-necessary bills and creating a massive disincentive for electrifying the economy.
Disconnecting electricity from the gas market is crucial to ensuring consumers benefit from the transition.
Doug Clark, Currie, Edinburgh
Right prevails
It's encouraging that the Westminster Parliament has resisted the temptation to reopen the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil fields (your report, 25 March). While opening them may have been seen as the obvious choice, this decision is principled.
Our future lies in the vastly expanding renewables sector, which is more than sufficient for all our needs, despite the protests of Nigel Farage and Reform UK, who would bring in fracking, to top up fossil fuels.
No doubt the Conservatives, under the increasingly far right leadership of Kemi Badenoch, voted against this principled move, and indeed, there would be pressure from within the Labour ranks.
Ed Miliband is to be praised for facing down opposition, even from within the Cabinet. Right, for once, prevailed.
Ian Petrie, Edinburgh
Forgotten families
Renewables zealots Ed Miliband, Michael Shanks, Peter Kyle et al bleat on about renewables being at the forefront of the UK’s energy strategy in preference to fossil fuels. They refuse to countenance the huge importance of oil derived from the North Sea despite agreeing oil and gas will be very important for decades.
And what is their greatest sin in promoting renewables? They never give a moment’s thought to jobs and employment?
There are thousands of people still employed in the North Sea but thousands have lost their jobs with stress and uncertainty for families.
Enjoying lucrative sinecures and despite being socialists, these devotees obviously give no consideration to the people in the front line and the effects on families and businesses employing them. Businesses large and small in Aberdeen and the North East are closing weekly, with people on the scrapheap
Then what about the massive tax revenue to be had from production? The UK is strapped for cash, unable to fund the most basic requirements of government.
It’s time for Miliband and his colleagues to get their priorities right and support people and businesses, something they are unable to understand but which will define the Labour Party at the polls.
Douglas Cowe, Kingseat, Aberdeenshire
Pre-judged
In your article “Father of Chinook crash victim died ‘fighting for answers’” (23 March), you stated that the families of the victims are calling for a “judge-led public inquiry” into the disaster (inter alia). However, a Fatal Accident Inquiry into the accident was held in Paisley Sheriff Court from 8 January-2 February 1996. The FAI was presided over by Sheriff Sir Stephen Young.
In Scotland, a sheriff is “de facto a judge”. Consequently a “judge-led” public inquiry has already occurred.
Steuart Campbell, Edinburgh
Unfair taxation
While working I paid into my works pension and the state pension. Now retired, I hear the news going on about the state pension being a benefit they cannot afford to keep increasing.
However, when calculating if I pay income tax, my works pension and state pension are added together. This means I pay tax. Yet a near neighbour, having never worked, is on benefits and although she has an income similar to mine does not pay tax.
So, why is the state pension singled out and renamed as an income for tax purposes. Surely if a person’s “income” is over the £12,570 threshold they pay tax regardless of where the money comes from.
Elizabeth Hands, Armadale, West Lothian
Day of champions
In Monday’s Now and Then column I noticed that three Olympian champions, Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Mo Farrah were, all born on March 23.
Carolyn Clarke, Edinburgh
Are we agreed?
The BBC interviewed Nicola Sturgeon as she prepares to depart the stage that is the Scottish Parliament. She commented that she was “contented” and “at peace” with her decision to quit politics.
Dare I say, aren’t we all?
Richard Allison, Edinburgh
Write to The Scotsman
We welcome your thoughts – NO letters submitted elsewhere, please. Write to [email protected] including name, address and phone number – we won't print full details. Keep letters under 300 words, and in the body of the email – no attachments – and avoid 'Letters to the Editor/Readers’ Letters' or similar in your subject line. If referring to an article, include date, page number and heading. No poems.
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.