The SNP should be vetting election candidates constantly

This is, I assume, on the grounds that time is short for vetting if there is a snap election, but it is an insult to effectively be told that there is no-one good enough locally, but someone who has been ousted from another seat, or failed to get into something else, is better than them.

Perhaps local councillors and so on do not want to stand, but there have been those interested who for some reason do not get to vetting, or do not get through vetting, for what seem like flimsy reasons. It is impossible to get decisions overturned, as there appears to be no right of appeal, even if the reasons are factually wrong. Getting to the start line to be vetted is veiled in secrecy and is then I believe open to abuse by those with personal issues against potential candidates. The process drags on and on and on for no apparent reason.

Locals are relegated to leafleting and so on for candidates who will have little or no affinity to an area. It is nothing personal against them, but why on earth are good local candidates not selected before them? Wouldn’t that increase the chance of SNP success? Won’t local voters feel a bit insulted by outsiders being parachuted in? It is another example of top-down policies which do not take account of local perceptions.

I understand there is different vetting for councillors/MPs/MSPs, and it is time-consuming. I believe that is the rationale for taking those already vetted, but why is there no ongoing vetting for elections at all levels, so that time constraints would not exist and a pool of local candidates would be ready at any time? Then it would just need updated vetting for those already on the list, rather than starting from scratch.

Julia Pannell
Arbroath

JUST Read Alyn Smith’s column (I’m the best candidate to win Stirling from the Tories, September 11) and may I courteously suggest that National readers have a whip-round to by him a new trumpet! However, more power to his elbow – the eradication of the Tories in Scotland can only be a good thing.

Kenny Burnett
Dyce, Aberdeen

MAY I ask, via an open letter to Transport Secretary Michael Matheson MSP, if there has been any progress on reinstating the Rosyth to Zeebrugge ferry?

Given the chronic uncertainty of Brexit, might I respectfully suggest there is a case for our country to have a fully functional ferry service between our Scotland and Europe?

There used to be a very good service of this type. The Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry was initiated in May 2002 with two ships: MV Superfast IX and MV Superfast X. Sadly this service ended permanently during April 2018. Fortunately, the infrastructure and skillset at both Scottish and European ports are still pretty much intact.

Surely a Scottish Government-backed endeavour to reintroduce this service for, say, a guaranteed 24 months would be worth pursuing? CalMac/Northlink ferry companies have a shortage of vessels, but most certainly and very helpfully have the officers, crew, administration and professional bona fides to time charter and manage a suitable ship between Scotland and Europe. After 24 months a review of whether to continue the service would be triggered by a sunset clause on statutory underwriting because hopefully the word “Brexit” will be banished from our scunnered sore Scottish ears.

The Scottish Government, as owner of a major tranche of home waters, UK merchant navy in the form of CalMac Ferries, CMAL and recently the owner of a ferry shipbuilding yard, is more than competent authority to make this happen.

To protect Scottish interests in the health, well-being, food supply chain and fuel security of Scotland is something I, and hopefully many others, would support and welcome, especially given details in the UK Government Yellowhammer report laying bare the threat to the most vulnerable and ill in our society, with medicine shortages already apparent. Let alone the threat to business, employment, income tax and the whole mechanism of fair and effective national governance in Scotland.

Consequently Mr Matheson, please can you advise what preparation is being made to study, evaluate and bring into effect a ferry service that would be of significant reassurance to the citizens of Scotland?

Russ McLean
Carnoustie

I AM aware that picking TV programmes is subjective and therefore is never going to have universal approval, but yesterday’s pick of Question Time has to be at best an oversight. I can’t imagine any reader of The National choosing to watch a programme from Norwich featuring Tory, Labour and DUP MPs. This show lost what little credibility it may have had (except to the Britnat fanatic) when it displayed on more occasions than I can remember a blatant bias against Scottish independence and for the “one nation” Tory concept of the UK.

Barry Stewart
Blantyre