NICOLA Sturgeon was right to link the cause of human rights with social justice in a recent speech.

We have seen, in the Tories’ perfidious Trade Union Bill, an attack on those freedoms guaranteed by Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Were the Tories to succeed in their attempt to dismantle the human rights framework in the UK, replacing it with their back of a fag packet Bill of Rights, we should be under no illusion that this would give them further license to attack the vulnerable, the disabled and lowly-paid workers.

By opting out of the European framework for Human Rights and acting to reduce our rights as Scottish citizens, David Cameron is giving succour to tyrannies across the globe who would like to interpret human rights conventions as they see fit. That alone should make him reconsider.

I am proud to be a member of a party that has a long record of standing up for human rights and social justice.

With 56 SNP MPs in Westminster, Scotland will have a coherent voice protecting our civil liberties, working with members from across the House of Commons to protect our Human Rights Act.

Dr Angus MacLeod
Glasgow


THE public may recollect that those in favour of independence originally wished for three question on the ballot paper. The third question was: “Do you want additional powers for Scotland?”

However, the Westminster government refused to sanction a third question, insisting on a straight Yes or No to Scotland becoming an independent country.

Polls taken, prior to this decision, showed that 20 per cent to 30per cent of people were keen on the option of granting more powers.

Then when campaigning was in its final throes, we had the “Vow”, whereby more powers akin to federalism, were added to the No vote.

Remember the mantra: “Don’t think a No vote will mean the status quo”

So the No vote neatly hoovered up those who were against independence and those who wanted more powers.

This ingenious and unscrupulous political sleight of hand created an advantage that would prove decisive.

However, ironically, the Scottish Labour MPs, who so enthusiastically supported the No Campaign, in order to save their jobs, were not long in getting their come-uppance.

Joseph G Miller
Dunfermline

Are the tie and crest still trumping all?

CAT Boyd’s excellent article on the ruling elite summed it up exactly (Cameron’s unnatural union with a dead pig’s mouth tells us much about him, The National, September 22).

We, the common folk are pigs and shoving it in our mouths is what the symbolism of Cameron’s obscenity represents.

I always think back to Eton Rifles by The Jam: “Thought you were smart when you took them on. But you didn’t take a peep in their artillery room. All that rugby puts hairs on your chest.What chance have you got against a tie and a crest?”

Those Etonians and their ilk ran empires and have no understanding of democracy, nor wish for it.

Only through an independent Scotland do we have a chance of equality and liberty – b****r fraternity!

Bryan Clark
Flodigarry, Skye


APART from being constantly told that Oxbridge education is top educational stuff and other lower-ranking universities are really just “elevated technical colleges” and low down the scholastic ladder, we now have to deal with what has emerged from the memoirs of one Lord Ashcroft.

The peer writes of the hanky-panky absurdities of private young men’s associations and clubs in such privileged establishments.

Talk about a pig in a poke, seems more appropriate to turn the phrase around. Perhaps turning the entire scenario around wouldn’t go amiss neither.

Let the spotlight expose Oxbridge elitism for what it assuredly is, a rite-of-passage to top posts in the power structure of British society.

This is irrespective, I am sure, of much useful research and other worthwhile study that takes place among its less praiseworthy purposes.

Similar worthwhile effort takes place in the lower-status universities too and minus the private club scene and the level of attention accorded Oxbridge.

Ian Johnstone
Peterhead


THANKS to the No voters we now live in an oligarchy where Cameron and his henchmen have complete power.

Everything has been sold off. The NHS and welfare State will both be privatised within this Tory term in office.

Our motor industry is now foreign-owned and likewise our energy companies.

China is now building and running our nuclear power stations while Russia is slowly buying London.

This begs the question: why do we need Trident when the two biggest military threats to Western civilisation part-own us?

Why would they nuke what already belongs to them?

Chas Mc Ardle
Wishaw


I WAS really disappointed in The National’s front page of September 22 (Cameron stays silent and prays it will all blow over).

I fully expected this from other daily newspapers and was not surprised to see the range of headlines in these publications on “piggate”.

A more appropriate front page for The National would have focussed on the point raised by the First Minister: did David Cameron know about Lord Ashscroft’s non-domiciled tax status earlier than he admitted to?

I have purchased The National since its first edition and been delighted with its content.

Please do not lower standards to that of other Scottish daily papers.

Hector Maclean
Glasgow


REGARDING your report (Winner Tsipras vows to revive economy,The National, September 22): he needs to adopt an entirely different strategy. The IMF etc exist to defend what they see to be the interests of international bankers.

Greece needs a made-to-measure solution.Their situation is unique in two ways. One is that they have a huge number of super-rich, who pay hardly any tax. The other is that they have a very low retirement age. Both must change.

To compensate for tax evasion over the past decade, any Greek who should have been paying tax and who has assets in cash and/or kind over €1 million should be subject to a one-off wealth levy. This would be a percentage of their total assets, and would be used mainly to pay down Greek government debt, starting with that with the most interest and other conditions. Many countries have a substantial national debt, and the levy should be enough to leave Greece in the normal range of debt.

There would then be a progressive system of taxation. The super-rich would not be “ taxed till the pips squeak” as Greece needs them to run big and successful enterprises, pay tax, offer skilled jobs, and attract the tourists, but the sheer number of wealthy people provides a huge tax base.

The other problem is an extreme case of a general difficulty. State contributory pension schemes are usually “Ponzi Schemes”. The contributions are not invested; they are spent paying out to today’s pensioners. When National Insurance started under Attlee many men died before reaching pension age, and the average man who drew a pension only survived three years. It was possible for general taxation to take up the shortfall. However, with the prospect of a large proportion living to 90 or older, a dramatic change is inevitable.

The very rich will pay in taxes for the very poor, but the average citizen will have to accumulate a pension pot of something like 15 years’ income.

Private pension funds, including trade union funds, have the merit that they build up assets, and when interest rates return to normal levels annuities will be credible, as will be cash in the bank. I do not know the demographics of Greece, but I would guess that it would be necessary to increase the pension age immediately by at least five years, then by six months each year thereafter until it reached 75. Other countries, including the UK, face the same prospect, and also the need to make some substantial provision in case people need to go into a care home.

It is for Tsipras and his colleagues to determine what pension arrangements would be sustainable in Greece, then convince the electorate that if the super-rich are levied and taxed the public should accept a major change to pension expectations and provision. Can it be done?

John Smart
Lossiemouth


IT was quite amusing to hear Willie Rennie at the LibDem conference proclaiming that Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP will use absolutely any excuse to bring about a second referendum including bringing in no less than Sean Connery.

Perhaps Willie had left the country during the General Election and may need reminding that his party, after committing political suicide by forming a coalition with the Tories and then abandoning and backtracking on every promise and decent principle that they ever stood for, was not only defeated, but completely and categorically rejected by the electorate both north and south of the Border.

He may however, have good reason to be afraid of Sean Connery because as it stands, Connery’s moustache on its own would be a more appealing candidate to voters than Willie Rennie, Ruth Davidson or Kezia Dugdale could ever hope to be. If justice be served, we shall hopefully see that LibDem beacon of honesty and integrity Alistair Carmichael also ejected from office by his own constituents and into the Jobseekers Plus wilderness where he surely belongs.

Graeme Goodall
Buckie


I HAVE just seen Dundee Rep’s superb production of The Cheviot, The Stag, and The Black, Black Oil. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the original production I saw 40 years ago. Sadly, the structure of land ownership in Scotland has changed little in the intervening decades. As our MSPs shape the SNP’s new Land Reform Bill, they should take an evening out to see this new production. It would put a fire in their bellies for real radical reform.

Les Wilson
Port Charlotte, Islay


Sturgeon tells Westminster: We’ll never agree to scrapping Human Rights Act


John Beattie: The Human Rights Act is a foundation of society, so what kind of government would scrap it?

The National View, September 24: Why keeping the Human Rights Act is vital to all the UK