I was gladdened by the news that Edinburgh Airport, despite the awful passenger experience, and Prestwick Airport, have added new routes and flights to their schedule (“Capital sees new winter flights”, The Herald, October 28).
I also noted the faux outrage, which was actually quite wrong as it turned out, from Stephen Flynn and John Swinney about energy services company Petrofac.
It was only a short while ago that the SNP declared a climate emergency, culminating in excess grandstanding by the SNP leadership at COP26, including one John Swinney.
Nicola Sturgeon was embarrassed when Greta Thunberg dismissed her claims that Scotland was a climate change leader. Astute Ms Thunberg saw right through the blatant political hypocrisy.
No wonder John Swinney is giving COP30 a miss.
Time to undeclare the climate emergency, Mr Swinney?
A bit of your famous ‘honesty’ would not go amiss, and please stop treating us as idiots.
Ian McNair, Cellardyke.
More letters...
John Swinney has served his country and deserves the due respect
Nigel Lawson was responsible for much of the mess Britain is in today
Great Repeal Bill is where SNP should focus its energies
Taking the biscuit
Your article ("Chocolate digestive-loving law student, 18, wins council by-election for SNP", The Herald, November 1) makes interesting reading.
I hope Josh Fyvie takes time to digest the full implications of the results of the by-election before he munches his next chocolate biscuit.
Whilst he won the seat for the SNP, the total votes cast for pro independence parties was 949 (43%), and the total for pro Union parties was, 1273 (57%) out of a total of 2222 votes.
If these results were replicated in next May's Scottish election, the SNP might win a majority of seats, and John Swinney would then call for an independence referendum, which would be lost by a greater margin that in 2014.
It’s unfortunate that young Mr Fyvie chose to study law and not mathematics, which would have been of far greater value to the SNP as they struggle with numeracy.
John Swinney take note. Your cunning plan is in danger of backfiring.
Eric Gardner, Glasgow.
Missed opportunity
Far from the 2014 Commission on Local Tax Reform advocating “keeping, though amending, the existing system”, the very first conclusion of their report 'Just Change' baldly states: 'The present Council Tax system must end' (“John Swinney under pressure to scrap council tax – but don’t hold your breath”, The Herald, November 1).
The conclusions also states: 'We believe this is the time to reform local taxation.'
It ends: 'This is an opportunity that must not be missed.'
So why was it?
Jane Ann Liston, St Andrews, Fife.
Ousting Andy
Despite losing the use of his titles, and in effect being demoted to join the rest of us plebs, Mr Andrew M. Windsor remains eighth in the line of succession (“Andrew will remain at Royal Lodge until after Christmas”, The Herald, November 1).
Apparently to remove him from the succession would require an Act of Parliament.
King Charles has ruled that out because he doesn’t want MPs getting a taste for debating the behaviour of the Royal Family, for who knows where that might lead?
However remote the possibility, if Andrew through succession should ever succeed to the throne, I believe that would be the trigger that ends the UK monarchy.
What can be done to avoid any chance of this happening?
Despite having a ‘caste iron’ lease on Royal Lodge, Andrew has been forced to agree to serve formal notice to surrender his lease.
This makes me wonder whether he could be forced to do the same regarding his place in the line of succession, by serving formal notice to the Crown that he renounces or abdicates from any claim to succession?
If, for that notice to be incontestable and have full force and effect, it was thought necessary for him to receive as a quid pro quo some specific consideration, perhaps that could be a peppercorn, used to his benefit in his Royal Lodge lease.
Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop, Ayrshire.
This parrot is dead…
Banishment (deportare) in Roman times was considered to be the highest form of punishment. It was feared more than death.
The mere idea of being sent to the furthermost outpost of the Empire, or even an uninhabited Island within sight of the Italian mainland, was further compounded by the sleight on their families.
Perhaps our ex Duke should consider himself lucky in only being banished to the far corners of the UK countryside.
I had hoped for him being told to consider the post of Governor of Tristan Da Cunha or Pitcairn.
(Which reminds me of Para Handy’s parrot, whose last words, as he drowned on being flung overboard, were: "Och weel, I have no one to blame except myself."
Robin Johnston, Newton Mearns.
Splendid isolation
I have behaved as well as I can in life, yet the idea of being exiled to Sandringham really appeals to me.
I would appreciate any good advice which could enable me to achieve this goal. I am sure I could tolerate the conditions of this isolation with few complaints.
Tina Oakes, Stonehaven.
In praise of monarchy
Ni Holmes (Letters, November 1) is pointing the water pistol the wrong way.
The wannabe world-diplomats and idlers forming a majority in the Scottish Parliament are the sole obstacles to a socially just and equitable Scotland, whether independent or devolved.
The UK head of state is no obstacle to any kind of progress.
Britain and her four nations are genuinely republics because they have real democracy.
Most countries in the world are called republics and are dictatorships. Their presidents are kleptomaniacs.
Republic means something that belongs to the people. Britain does.
The first states to be called republics in Europe, in the last millennium BC, belonged to a public which was a rich upper class.
The real revolution was in the 300 years leading to the present day, when the people of modern countries got the vote. Britain and some other countries have kept a monarchy which is friendly towards democracy.
The fact of republic is power in a democratic process.
There are countries called parliamentary republics. Germany is one. The president isn’t an executive ruler. Modern Kings aren’t rulers either.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Britain and others have kept their monarchy because they can. Britain’s monarchy evolved over centuries of upheaval. Japan’s was simply redesigned by General MacArthur.
The King is a pioneer of many projects for social progress, in his own private right, because his job is not ruler of a country.
His job is service to the public by example, encouragement and vigilance. He knows perfectly well of his mother’s pledge of service to the people, broadcast in 1947. He knows she kept her promise.
Presidents have large salaries, but modern Britain avoids paying Kings with taxpayer’s money.
The UK monarchy is paid a minor share of profits from the possessions of earlier monarchs. The major share goes to the exchequer.
Tim Cox, Bern, Switzerland.
Weather warning
I fully realise the dangers of generalisation.
However, I do feel we are living in a social desert with nomadic tribes masquerading as political parties. They are considerably influenced by the shifting sands of the vociferous minority.
This is to the detriment of all of us.
We really do need some form of climate change…
Dan Edgar, Rothesay, Isle of Bute.
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