LESLEY Riddoch has again confirmed that she and her colleagues at The National are the cream of the crop (Royal privilege proves we’re not ‘in it together’, March 26).
It was moving and heart-warming to see and hear the Scotland-wide outpouring of gratitude and admiration for the NHS professionals. It is reported that MOTs are to be extended for 12 months. Can I suggest that all NHS professional and essential workers should be exempt from income tax for the duration of this pandemic? Unrealistic? Not so.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Boris Johnson flouted his own Covid-19 rules
Can I also suggest that the shortfall be made up by requesting that all millionaires, hedge fund owners and tax-avoidance reprobates be asked to make substantial donations to HRMC? If they refuse, they should be named and shamed and their income tax should be immediately increased.
Perhaps they could start with the person skulking at Balmoral (which should be renamed Immoral).
One positive consequence to come from this pandemic is that no decent person will ever again take the NHS professionals and the essential workers for granted. It has brought home to us the magnitude of the debt we owe them. A debt which can never be repaid.
Joe Cowan
Balmedie
IT is undoubtedly a wise move of the Scottish Government to set up a scientific advisory group of experts well qualified to plot out a Scottish route for dealing with Covid-19.
If it is true that the Prime Minister inadvertently didn’t reply to an invitation to join the EU Procurement Consortium for vital medical supplies, then that is very unfortunate. If it is also true that a small order of 350 ventilators was placed by the Westminster Government with a medical supplies firm and a larger order of 10,000 with the firm of Dyson, this must hamper our efforts against Covid-19 somewhat. Because of course Dyson, while very innovative, does not make ventilators at present.
So it is an idea to plot out a more specific Scottish course.
But I am at a loss to understand why the Scottish Government seems to have made little progress on testing NHS carers and people within the community. One of the Scottish Government plans discussed today was the recruitment of volunteers to help in NHS efforts to support vulnerable people in the community. If the volunteers have not been tested and there are potentially 65,000 people who unknowingly carry the coronavirus, does that not open the possibility to further spread?
While it is wonderful that people across the UK show their appreciation for the work of the NHS and all emergency workers by clapping and cheering, shouldn’t we as a Scottish nation be demonstrating our concern for their safety by accessing test kits wherever we can find them, at whatever cost!
We can find the money later – crowd-funding if need be!
At this moment, before the crisis hits Scotland full-on, young doctors and nurses are drawing up their wills. We must do everything in our power to protect them and to save as many Covid-19 patients as possible.
Maggie Chetty
Glasgow
IT is so encouraging to read news in The National of individuals and companies who are supporting our front line health workers with help and donations. We know that at the end of this crisis those concerned will be too modest to blow their own trumpets, so we should be blowing for them.
On the other hand, those non-essential business which insist on their staff going to work in spite of the risks will also be remembered. Do not underestimate the power of a group of consumers.
Pete Rowberry
Duns
REASSURING words from the government that they have their arms around us just now looking after us. However, what the government historically gives with one hand it takes back with the other! Look out for the emergency budget where the government will put its hands around our throats as it increases tax, National Insurance and vat to pay for the felling of the money tree forest its planted!
Steve Cunningham
Aberdeen
THE most crucial weapon against coronavirus can be found within the culture of a country. In Asia and Africa, reciprocal altruism manifesting in the responsibility and care given within extended families is key. Generations of one family live together either in high-rise blocks or compounds within townships, caring for each other. Those who earn the most share with those who cannot work.
The West does not have that culture and as the herd survival idea now discredited relapses, as the survival of the fittest theory favoured by the wealthy draws criticism from the poor, one country in particular is bound to suffer the most: America. Run by an infantile president who has a gut feeling that they already have a vaccine while desperately short of ventilators, the sickness in American society is exemplified by the actions of the Pershing Square company, a New York-based hedge fund.
The company’s boss, billionaire Bill Ackman, made $2.6 billion predicting the world market crash due to the virus but he’s not finished yet. He claims that “hell is coming to the US economy”. For the sake of the vulnerable, I hope he loses this bet.
Mike Herd
Highland
CAN anyone explain to this thick Jock the fascination to shoppers of the humble toilet roll? I see women in the supermarket sauntering around with a 12-pack as if it were a thousand-pound handbag. Considering the destiny of the product and the fact that a newspaper use to suffice, it beggars belief. Although I must admit even I wouldn’t embarrass my arse with the Daily Mail.
Kenny Burnett
via email
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