IN yesterday’s National we find out that the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament can’t report Murdo Fraser MSP to the Standards Commission for clearly and openly encouraging people to break the law and guidance surrounding travel during this current Covid outbreak. Yet in the letters page we have a reader (Brian Lawson) defending James Dornan MSP for being reported to the same Standards Commission for an off-the-cuff comment regarding Jacob Rees-Mogg!
READ MORE: Call for Presiding Officer to get more powers over 'unlawful' Tory MSP comments
Who makes up these rules? Surely it’s clear – for those who believe in heaven and hell – that all the Tory Cabinet of crooks and liars are heading for hell (unless lying, cheating and committing massive fraud on public funds is now a passage to heaven). Yet Mr Fraser, who is openly calling for people to ignore all the safety warnings about travel during Covid and putting others’ lives at risk, is untouchable!
Is it any wonder that people lose interest in politics when nonsense like this happens!
Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel