ALTHOUGH I was impressed by the First Minister’s excellent speech on International Women’s Day, the real star of the debate was Natalie Don MSP.
I’m afraid to say I hadn’t heard of this MSP before. I believe she was only elected last year, but going by her speech on what women have to put up with – the constant scrutiny and pressure to perform – the future is bright for her.
In my opinion, she spoke for women like me, ones who feel under pressure all the time, having to explain every decision we’ve ever made in our lives, from what we’re wearing to who we’re going out with. Natalie Don summarised this well in a very forceful and engaging speech.
Well done, Natalie – I’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for you in the future.
Julie McSkimming
Paisley
I HAD to check the calendar to make sure it was not April 1. In the midst of a European war with millions made homeless and thousands dead, the First Minister of Scotland found the time to offer a formal apology to people accused of witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries.
The First Minister said she was choosing to acknowledge an “egregious historic injustice”. Not content with issuing an entirely pointless apology, Ms Sturgeon also told MSPs that the parliament could choose to legislate to pardon those convicted under the law. Recently elected SNP MSP Natalie Don is apparently planning a members’ bill extending a formal pardon. Clearly some folk have too much spare time on their hands.
The Witches of Scotland campaign had urged the government to offer a public apology, saying it would send a “powerful signal”– to whom, would be my question. The people who were responsible for these actions are long dead and gone, as are their victims. If the persecution of witches is high on the political radar of the Scottish electorate, that is certainly news to me.
This is the very worst kind of political gimmickry I can imagine. If we are ever to convince more than 50% of our population that we need to take the leap from devolution
to independence, the First Minister, her MSPs and the parliament as a whole need to concentrate on real issues which impact on the real lives of the people still alive and trying to scrape a living in the Scotland of today.
In the coming months, many of the current women (and men) of Scotland will have to make hard choices between heating their homes and feeding their bairns.
It will be very cold comfort to know that their government is more concerned with the fate of their long-dead ancestors from nearly 400 years ago.
Glenda Burns
Glasgow
THE more that time passes, the further Labour gets from its founding principles.
1. Keir Hardie advocated home rule for Scotland in 1912.
Today’s Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, reject that, and the capitalist Anas Sarwar follows on like the obedient poodle he is...
2. The Labour Party was founded to oppose the Tories – but today we find collaboration with Tories on many issues. On town councils and regional councils.
3. Now it seems OK to allow the former grand master of the Orange Order to join their ranks as a councillor. The thousands of former Catholic Labour voters will be pleased!
4. Now we come to the most recent Labour policy on Putin and his invasion of Ukraine. Certainly a disgraceful war crime and one that he must be punished for – but by the Labour Party?
Tony Blair’s Labour government believed the CIA lie on “weapons of mass destruction” and helped kill tens of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq, including torture/murder of hoteliers and other business people.
That Labour Party?
The Labour members of Parliament who stood, red-faced with anger, demanding that Putin should be punished for war crimes, but it was righteous for Blair to invade Iraq and kill – amnesia? That’s OK then.
Roy Linton
Aberdeenshire
I AM 69 years old and unlike John Baird (Letters, Mar 8) I fully expect to be living in an independent Scotland before I die!
Indeed I hope to sample all the advantages of independence before
I am too old to enjoy them!
Drew MacLeod
Wick
WELL done, Kevin McKenna!
Your article in The National goes a long way in explaining why I cancelled my SNP membership.
I’ll believe a 2023 referendum is happening when I get my polling card.
Like Mr McKenna, I’m wondering what the next “reason” for postponing the referendum will be. Inclement weather? A disaster in some far-off land? Too near the holidays? Somebody’s birthday? Take your pick.
Drew Reid
Falkirk
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