Readers' Letters: New Presiding Officer has made welcome changes

I hope the previous Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, looks at the progress made in only a few weeks and is distinctly embarrassed by her failures to achieve much over so many years.

Brian Barbour, Haddington, East Lothian

A stronger SNP

Some have argued that the Peter Murrell embezzlement will be the end of the Scottish Independence movement. Those who do, simply do not understand, Scottish Politics. The independence movement is much larger than the SNP, though granted it is the party, which for so long, have articulated the campaign. Those who seek to leave the UK will continue to back the party that seems most likely to achieve that goal. If that is the SNP, then the SNP will live on.

Boris Johnson’s “Partygate” may have been the reason behind the then Prime Ministers departure from Downing Street, whilst the Mandelson affair, certainly threatens Keir Starmer’s authority. But the Conservatives live on, as will the Labour party, though perhaps in a different guise or with different policies and personalities.

The attack on Sturgeon and by extension the SNP is simply the next attempt by British political parties and a complicit media to bring down the party and thus kick the issue of independence in to the long grass. This is where the two established UK political parties are weak.

They lack strong party alignment. They do not represent a consistent cause, a belief. Class dealignment means that the Labour party is no longer the voice of the working man, whilst Conservative pragmatism, means they simply drift with the wind.

This concerted attack on the SNP will likely backfire. Many do not particularly enjoy the hounding of the former First Minister, a woman that for so many fought hard to promote the campaign for Independence. An attack on Nicola Sturgeon and by extension the SNP, is for a large number of Scottish voters, a personal attack, on deeply held beliefs.

Stuart Smith, Aberdeen

Murrell impaired

The Murrell affair has seriously impaired the reputation of the SNP – it has caused damage which is severe, long-lasting and perhaps even permanent. So, it is perhaps unsurprising that people have speculated as to why the case only took place after the election. This is one element which an inquiry should look at, if one is indeed convened. However, there is a contrasting narrative. Perhaps the SNP is so dumb, if I might be allowed to use such a pejorative term, that they didn’t even realise what a hammer blow the case would deliver to the party – so that the long, unexplained delay which has occurred before legal proceedings commenced is simply happenstance.

It is telling how the two First Ministers have tackled the problem.

John Swinney has adopted the “Move along now, nothing to see here” denial strategy, with his brusque, wooden “No comment” approach, whereas Nicola Sturgeon, unwilling to accept any responsibility for failing to ensure that the financial affairs of the party were adequately monitored, has decided to go for distraction. It seems it is all the fault of the patriarchy, ascribing the faults of the male to the innocent female, that has caused her plight and she has transmuted her persona from the lady with the iron grip to that of the down-trodden victim, pilloried in public for a crime she didn’t commit.

We shall see which tactic, if either, is more successful in due course, for there is no doubt that this saga will run and run, because it makes it clear that the SNP is incapable of governing itself, let alone a country.

Barry Hughes, Edinburgh

Capercaillie habitat

The notion that the impairment to the biodiversity of Highland forests in Strathspey arises from the absence of ancient species (Aurochs were mentioned) is not correct, The reduction in rich habitats is due to the creation of sporting estates, mainly in the 19th century.

In 1833, the forest of Abernethy and the Davoch of Delnabo were offered for rent of their sporting rights in exclusive London clubs and in the press.

In 1847, a recommendation was made by the factor to the owner Lord Seafield that the forests should be cleared of livestock as were they 'more quiet and private' deer would frequent them in large numbers. This had unwelcome implications for people with holdings in the forest, where they grazed their cattle, and would lead to their eventual removal from it.

An embargo was soon placed on tenants wintering livestock in the forests - as cattle and sheep grazed out pasture for deer. Hilly moors soon became hunting grounds or forestry plantations for estate benefit. Now bringing cattle back is a positive step.

To help the capercaillies and other ground feeding birds, another measure would be to encourage those who take their dogs to the forests to follow the paths and keep their pets on leads.

Ann Glen, Airdrie

On repeat

Are we in the middle of another pandemic? Just asking, as yet again Nicola Sturgeon is on television daily.

Brian Petrie, Edinburgh

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