THE second review of the Scottish Parliament Constituency Boundaries has just been published by the Boundaries Commission for Scotland and Falkirk has not fared well. Currently Falkirk has two MSPs, Michael Matheson and Michelle Thomson, covering the council area, and for an area and population the size of Falkirk that seems in order. But all is about to change should the boundary proposals go ahead, as Falkirk will move to three representatives covering the Falkirk Council area.
Boundary changes are supposed to adhere to a list of principles including geographical considerations, accessibility of the constituency area for all constituents, local government boundaries and local ties that could become endangered. Those principles are not being seen in those proposed changes when it comes to Falkirk.
READ MORE: New Scottish Parliament constituencies – see all the proposed changes
The idea of moving small villages out from the boundary of Falkirk for the purpose of the Scottish Parliament representative and tagging them onto neighbouring areas covered by different local authorities makes no sense.
It is cutting a wedge through communities, a wedge through a historic town. This is not the first time Falkirk has suffered as a result of boundary changes; the new boundaries in place for the next Westminster election also ran a wedge through historic Falkirk.
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
LABOUR have joined The Tories in openly sneering at Scotland’s democratic right to have an “in context” referendum.
By “in context” I mean the post-Brexit/post-truth UK reality and economic disaster which is the Tory wasteland, underpinned – as with everything else – by Labour’s soft compliance.
READ MORE: Scottish independence billboards appear across Glasgow
This week’s PMQs was an interesting bookmark on the topic. As Stephen Flynn wielded his verbal ice-pick with the usual dexterity, I was reminded that the sneering wee PM – Mr most-unpopular-prefect persona himself – not so long ago thought Darlington was in Scotland. Now, if the little Darlings (or whatever folk from Darlington are called) behave themselves, I’m sure Scotland would be happy to negotiate with them so they can join the sensible people. But first things first.
Independence. Back into Europe (and via the EU, re-join the rest of the world). Then we’ll take pitches from understandably disgruntled towns in the north of England that have seen the light.
Patience is a virtue…
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh
ALASTAIR McLeish in Wednesday’s paper bemoaned the lack of interest shown in Scotland for classical music and opera. He partly blames the education system for this and suggests more emphasis in schools.
I can only go by my own schooling, 60-odd years ago, when music lessons implied that his preferred choice was superior to any other form. Music that you could tap your feet to was so uncouth, the masses give their views by preferring the latter. To be “serious music”, it had to be written by a German and sung in Italian.
Combine this with the portrayal of audiences at such events on TV and in films – the men all claw-hammer jackets and black bow-ties, the women with long-arm gloves, fancy handbags and a jeweller’s shop on their person.
READ MORE: Creative Scotland fails to recover all money for explicit art film
Until such social attitudes are discarded there is little chance of such music becoming more popular other than amongst those who consider themselves a social elite and for whom the music is only an opportunity to display perceived social distinction.
That he terms such events as featuring “serious music” implies all others are not. Any music that gives pleasure to listeners is “serious”.
The pretentiousness associated with such “serious music” in Britain is a turnoff to most of the population in itself.
Drew Reid
Falkirk
MAY I respectfully offer a suggestion for the football section of your website?
It would be nice to have a filter that allows me to filter out all articles relating to either Celtic or Rangers so that I don’t have to wade through the deluge of articles describing the latest trials and tribulations of those two clubs, and find something relevant to those of us not wishing to gorge ourselves on the “Celgers” phenomenon.
Please can you reflect the title of your newspaper, The National, and give us easier access to other teams outwith Glasgow?
Rob Fletcher
via email
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