AM I incorrect that the noise and barracking that regularly takes place in Westminster has started to infect the Holyrood chamber?
Are the “newbies” just trying to steal a march on the new Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone, before she gets to grip with the full power of her position? It is very disappointing to see the disrespectful attitudes in the chamber shown to her.
I understand that politics can become heated but it shows the quality of the politicians who can hold back their frustration, indignation or downright anger at remarks made, until they are permitted to speak. Those who can hold back their enmity and criticise in a positive yet respectful manner should be applauded.
READ MORE: Presiding Officer could have key role in Holyrood's indyref2 bid
The Holyrood chamber is only partially occupied at this time, and I wonder what will happen when Covid restrictions are removed. Will the increased attendance cause an increase in this unacceptable behaviour? I sincerely hope not.
I would fully support Alison Johnstone and her team showing offenders the red card. Perhaps this a role that Douglas Ross MSP, leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party, Westminster MP for Moray, grade one professional football official could support – however, he maybe a bit busy, or in fact the cause.
Alistair Ballantyne
Birkhill, Angus
I READ more and more about people being frustrated about the silence from the SNP when it comes to correcting the Tories and Labour when they talk nonsense. I have watched First Minister’s Questions for ages, and every time Nicola Sturgeon has an opportunity to call out the person who has lied about a subject she is far too quiet about it and only offers a mild rebuke.
I am sick and tired of this – I want someone to be a lion and roar because being quiet won’t win and I don’t like coming in second.
George Mylett
via email
IT’S sad that both of the opposition party leaders at Holyrood, as evidenced at First Minister’s Questions, refuse to abandon petty party politics rather than engage in constructive debate. By any measure, the parties of Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar lost the recent election yet both “leaders” seem obsessed with fighting the same battles over again by making even more misleading claims or in misrepresenting basic facts.
READ MORE: Scotland's young people are more effective opposition than braying Douglas Ross
Across the UK all governments are struggling to direct the implementation of fair and robust student education assessments without employing the qualifications exams of previous years. Exaggerating potential issues and attempting to portray the current difficult situation as an “education crisis” does not help the mental welfare of students already anxious about future study/work opportunities, never mind their personal health.
Attempting to get Scotland’s youth on side may be a justifiable political aim ahead of the referendum, but I personally thought both of these politicians were capable of making positive contributions to the education of Scotland’s youth, perhaps building on the foundation of the principles of Curriculum for Excellence (“academic statistics are not everything”) that all the Holyrood parties signed up to, but perhaps I was wrong?
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
IT is disappointing but not surprising to hear that the newly elected MSP for Renfrewshire North & West, Natalie Don, is being subjected to online trolling following her excellent maiden speech in the Scottish Parliament.
Unfortunately the rise of social media and the ability to create fake identities has made it too easy for those who sit on the sidelines to take out their venom on those they disagree with. Although, not all of them are anonymous. I’m sure I’m not alone amongst councillors and politicians to have online stalkers who criticise everything and think nothing of sending out abusive online messages. Sometimes it feels like you haven’t done your job unless you get one of these creeps trying to wear you down. Unfortunately social media companies (and political parties) are too slow to act and let such abusers continue their campaign of hate.
WATCH: SNP MSP makes need for indyref2 clear in powerful maiden speech
I know Natalie is strong enough to ignore such trolls and continue her excellent work within the parliament, but how many other people have been turned off politics by such actions, and how many are suffering from stress and anxiety knowing that every comment they make will result in at least one abusive message coming their way?
Mostly the online abuse is by keyboard warriors who are too cowardly to say such things to your face, but that doesn’t stop the stress and anxiety of having to deal with them.
I wouldn’t want to limit anyone’s freedom of speech but there has to be a better way of dealing with online harassment to ensure that such bullying continues unrestricted.
Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
IT was disappointing to read that your article on Cornwall today referred to it as “the south-west corner of England” when there are many people there who regard it as a nation in its own right.
Kenneth Fraser
via email
ACCORDING to the media the big seven were holding their summit in Cornwall, England. The history of Kernow (Cornwall) shows that Cornwall – with its own name, language, flag, and culture – was, and still is, a Celtic nation. They went to war against much larger England and the English king, were defeated, and in true English fashion and treatment of prisoners, their leaders were taken into a field and had their throats cut. The blood from their martyred bodies spells out their true nationhood. The ancient Celtic nation of Kernow (Cornwall).
The reason they made this stand against the larger bully, England, was they had refused to supply an army to go with the English king to fight in his war with Scotland. They are a fellow Celtic nation, they said, with whom we have no quarrel. Let us thank this fellow Celtic nation for making this ultimate stand, on behalf of Alba (Scotland). A stand which left them annexed to the very bully they had the guts to stand up to. Cornwall in England? NEVER.
Iain Ramsay
Greenock
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