ONCE again I find myself in very happy agreement with the views of Kevin McKenna, and his mum (Trust the Tories to apply pure market values to assess our human worth, April 1), when he castigates Toby Young, of whom I had not previously heard, when he expresses his views that we wrinklies should just be let go and not have any money spent on us as the best value for money for the country.
This has to be the worst statement so far during this lockdown scenario under which we are all operating, coming from someone who obviously considers himself important enough to think that members of the public will appreciate his abhorrent views.
Well I am well into the sacrificial category concerned, and I certainly hope to stick around long enough to help make sure the he, and his kind – which I fear includes many right-wing politicians – are seen off from our political screens.
READ MORE: Kevin McKenna: Trust Tories to apply market values to human worth
This is where an independent Scotland will have the opportunity to do things better than the failed Westminster set-up.
Another equally unacceptable statement comes from several banks, who have apparently put out a statement that they will not be making dividend payments during the present circumstances.
As one who holds a few shares in one of those as a result of the takeover some years ago of the building society with which I dealt at the time, I find this totally unacceptable. This, while not large, will nevertheless make a difference to this pensioner’s cash flow. Forget that – flow is not the correct word – make that “dribble”. This is the unacceptable face of banking and the greedy people who are in charge of it.
In this context I am reminded of the actions of the bank concerned when it decreed that the date which would qualify for account holders to receive shares would be set, retrospectively, at January 15, after a huge number of accounts had been depleted due to Christmas shopping and before customers’ next paychecks had arrived. These dirty tricks have to be brought to an end.
George M Mitchell
Dunblane
THE Scottish football authorities are well deserving of criticism but Mr Todd’s letter of April 2 fails to do this properly due to his own bias – rather a beam in his own eye which causes him to spout some common untruths on this issue.
First, Rangers didn’t get relegated – they went out of business and had to be reformed. The football authorities tried to force this newly formed Rangers into the then SPL, the top league, despite the fact that such a new club should start at the bottom – but outrage from fans of other clubs caused this to be voted down and they were eventually made to start in the bottom division.
At the time, the more honest Rangers fans agreed this was a correct decision. As to finance, that was what the authorities were thinking of when they tried to force them into the top division. Mr Todd seems to think money is more important than honesty in sport.
In fact, while Rangers were out of the top division, SPL clubs sorted out their finances, and attendances at the smaller clubs increased, and smaller clubs regularly won cups.
It was all good, especially the lack of the Ibrox “chorus” at these ground chanting their sectarian nonsense.
Honest criticism of the football authorities would be about their attempt to force the new Rangers into the top league, and for them only doing the right thing when their hand was forced.
Stuart McPherson
via email
IN the current scenario there are many people facing a cut in their wages when their company lays them off or are self-employed and face months before help will be forthcoming from the UK Government, if at all.
However, there are those who are able to work from home or have good pensions etc where their income has not been affected or only slightly so.
If that applies to you, can I strongly request that you buy more than one copy of The National each day or have them delivered to you. An extra copy will cost less than a cup of tea in Tesco’s, Morrison’s etc pre-lockdown times. Buy two – get Scotland free!
The multi-millionaire owners living in tax havens will have plenty of resources to ensure that their pro-Union newspapers survive. We need to ensure that The National does too.
Neil Myles
Scone
I PARTICULARLY noticed the letter from Fraser Grant, which linked the sentiments of the Declaration of Arbroath with the American Declaration of Independence.
It may be of interest to supporters of independence that, just before the lockdown began, Falkirk for Independence had taken delivery of a quality tea towel making exactly that connection. Headed by a saltire, it has details of our Declaration enshrining our inalienable right to self-determination and is followed by text from the American one, stating this same right.
Once this crisis is overcome, it will be going on sale at the very reasonable price of £4.99.
L McGregor
Falkirk
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