IS it not amazing that when something comes along which kills rich and poor, all of a sudden money can be found in quantity and the NHS and the BBC are suddenly heroic in their defence of the realm?

All the morale-boosting (coming from all quarters these days) is based on that the central founding myth of the British state and establishment. It is not that of a country which had an empire based on slavery and exploitation being reduced to a small and increasingly irrelevant island off the coast of Europe. Rather it is the glorious years fighting the Germans. Most movie channels abound with the empire days of wars with British and USA victories.

READ MORE: PPE firm says Public Health England said to prioritise England

Regarding the Covid-19. I ordered 3M 8835 M/l Face masks in early January for family use. These are fairly sophisticated and expensive. However, despite the order being confirmed (for 10) I was soon told that all these masks were being diverted for government stocks (it did not say which government however).

I had previously bought this type of mask when the SARS outbreak was a possibility.

What is very alarming now,is that back in 2004-6 the Complimentary Medical Association and WHO were warning that there was a shortage of respirators in the UK, which would be crucial for keeping patients alive. As Jayney Goddard, the then President of CMA, said in 2006: “Doctors are planning for a pandemic, but without the equipment they need, there is not much they can do.”

I wonder when all the excuses and blame games will start? I wonder who did have these facts to hand, and did nothing? I wonder if we will ever get an answer...

Graham Noble
Kinlocheil

WHILE everyone else is concerned about the spread of coronavirus (Covid -19) and the implications this may have for their friends and family, there are still a few who see this as an opportunity to enrich themselves.

As usual, Tories such as Jacob Rees-Mogg (who appears to have gone missing from politics – again) is looking at how to make “super normal returns” during this crisis, but the royal family isn’t far behind.

Despite both the Queen and Prince Charles ignoring the government advice to stay put and not travel to holiday homes, this parasitic family have found another way to boost their incomes. It’s being reported that Princess Beatrice now plans a massive state wedding next year to help “boost the country’s morale”, with no doubt the state paying the costs for this gathering.

Tory think tanks are threatening to remove the triple lock on pensions to help pay for the economic costs of coronavirus while the royal family look for another bailout to pay for another royal wedding I suppose the father of the bride is keeping a tight hold on his own finances in case he’s extradited to the USA to answer for his close relationship with convicted (and now deceased) sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley

ALTHOUGH a few may disregard the lockdown, during this deadly virus may we thank the vast majority as we rejoice at the wonderful support generated throughout Scotland. From our FM, MPs, MSPs, church and community leaders and all who work for the NHS, to the tireless happy band of volunteers helping the vulnerable and “auld yins” like ourselves; truly it has been a revelation.

Instead of negative press quotes, let us focus on the timeless “we have nothing to fear except fear itself”. Also in the auld Scots tongue “ca canny, haud yer wheesht an get oan wi it”!

In these troubled times, as this pandemic deepens, we now realise just how fragile our world is. However, through past days of fun and laughter, the present must retain a sense of humour, confident that

the power of the human spirit and the inert goodness of people will see this pass.

Finally, in this period of isolation there is time to tackle things long forgotten, time to read and think, time to contact long-neglected friends, watch buds flower, listen to bird song and generally accept a gentler rhythm of life.

Jo and Grant Frazer
Newtonmore

I HAVE always accepted the fact that the birthdate of an independent Scotland was in the year of our Lord 843, when in the reign of Kenneth MacAlpin, King of Scots, the Scots and their Pictish neighbours were united into a single sovereign nation.

However, what are we to make of certain items published in recent weeks in The National? We have Allan White’s article “Voices for Scotland” saying “The Declaration of Arbroath [is] a document which signifies the unity and birth of a nation” (April 7), but that was in 843AD and the declaration was 477 years later.

Then we have Diarmid Hearns, head of public policy at National Trust for Scotland, saying “the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath is an incredibly important document in the birth of Scotland as a nation”.

Sorry, it’s an incredibly important moment in the history of the nation. Then there’s The National itself with a banner headline in an advertisement celebrating “the Declaration of Scottish Independence 1320”. Scotland was free in 843 and indeed was still free until 1707.

South of the border saw King Athelstan unite the southern tribes in 924 AD, with Scotland today the oldest surviving kingdom in Europe with 81 years of precedence in nationhood over England.

Bruce Moglia
Bridge of Weir

SURELY the UK Government has missed a trick here. They should establish a Ministry for the Enhancement and Development of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Appoint Chris Grayling as the minister and everything’s back to normal within a month. Simples.

Kenny Burnett
Dyce, Aberdeen

Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of The National is at stake. Please consider supporting us through this with a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months by following this link: www.thenational.scot/subscribe. Thanks – and stay safe.