ANDREW Learmonth’s article, “Leitch hits out after Leonard calls comment ‘tone deaf’” (October 24) exposes the depths to which the Scottish Labour party has sunk.
For Richard Leonard to misrepresent what Professor Jason Leitch – a highly qualified medical consultant and a Scottish civil servant – has said is diabolical, especially as it would appear it was to make what he, Richard Leonard – perhaps not the sharpest knife in the political drawer – thinks is a political point, is unacceptable.
Professor Leitch and his colleagues are working overtime to provide the very best up-to-date medical advice on how people in Scotland can try to manage the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
READ MORE: Jason Leitch hits back at Richard Leonard over 'tone deaf' tweet
It is the responsibility of the Scottish Government to consider the advice before conveying it to the general public. It is not a political game but for many it is a question of life and death.
Perhaps it would be helpful if Richard Leonard would disclose what he has contributed to the Scottish crusade against the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Scottish people are indebted to Professor Leitch and his colleagues for their unstinting efforts to help to us live through these very difficult times.
Thomas L Inglis
Fintry
RICHARD Leonard admits to a failure to understand the latest process of containment of Covid-19, finding it “confusing”.
This is noticeably not a novel experience for him, having been confused many times by many issues within recent memory. Regrettably for his colleagues, who tried to unseat him, the condition would appear to be what goes on between his ears!
The weekend’s press explained lucidly how our five-tier approach will operate, but only if you want to understand and not to object “in principle”.
J Hamilton
Bearsden
REGARDING your story “Tories consider ‘nuclear option’ over government’s legal advice on Alex Salmond” (October 26).
If the Tories go ahead with their plan and Holyrood eventually force the Scotish Govenment to release this advice, it will bring party political point-scoring to a new and unacceptable level.
Advisers traditionally supply frank and unbiased advice on many subjects to the Scottish Government on the understanding that it will be treated as confidential.
How will the Scottish Government convince advisers in future that advice given by them will not be forced into the public domain?
John S Jamieson
South Queensferry
I HAD booked to visit Berlin for the Christmas markets, at a time when it was safe to do so. Now, however, with Scotland being identified as a high-risk area, I find that I will have to quarantine for two weeks if I go, which defeats the object of a one-week visit.
The airline I was flying with say that they will fly as scheduled therefore if I chose not to fly (following current guidance) I will not be refunded or offered an alternative. Which begs the question why are they allowed to fly in the first place if people travelling from Scotland are to be quarantined on arrival?
This year, like many others, I have made several attempts to get a holiday. At the time of writing I am waiting for refunds from two companies for holidays booked and paid for. So between them and the trip to Berlin I am out of pocket by quite a bit of money. At least the latter companies will refund –eventually – but my Berlin trip will not. Why does the government allow flights from a restricted area to a restricted area at this time? This is surely beyond a joke. Or are companies simply allowed to profiteer on the backs of the gullible public?
Chick McKenna
Dumfries
NOT only history, but geology too, tell us that there is a distinction between Scotland and England. (Quake mystifies experts as Scots homes shaken and rumbled, October 26). Scotland’s land mass is thought to be part of a North Atlantic tectonic plate spanning Norway and Newfoundland. England’s land mass is part of an ancient Euro-continent tectonic plate. The collision of these two plates gives us today’s border and it’s no accident. Geology, history, identity – everything is connected.
Sandy Carmichael
Highland
BRIAN Lawson’s letter of Tuesday regarding Christmas woes in our uncertain times brought to mind two recent conversations I’ve had.
The first was with a retired journalist who said “At least this year journalists will not be rolling out the usual pre-Christmas stories of travel problems, cost of feeding large gatherings and accommodating everyone round a wee table.”
My second conversation was with a retired policeman who reckons this year’s Christmas shifts could be a doddle with no office party revellers, fewer family barneys and less drinking and driving.
Aye it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good.
Kate Armstrong
via email
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