House in order

While I welcome the sentiments behind Andrew Burns’ comments (Perspective, 10 April), he must recognise that the time to fight the bedroom tax and the other welfare reforms coming our way was in 2011 and 2012 when these measures were being discussed and debated in the Houses of Commons and Lords.

The “egos should have been put aside”, and “a pragmatic approach to make a bigger impact” should have been taken then, in the form of a co-ordinated 
opposition which we should
expect as a minimum from our political leaders.

Well, the genie has fled the bottle on this one and no amount of hand wringing and lamenting at this belated stage can put it back in.

There is, undeniably, agreement to quote Mr Burns “on a huge swathe of domestic issues”.

Can we be assured, therefore, that our politicians in Scotland learn a lesson from the headlines and protests surrounding the introduction of the welfare reform measures in recent weeks and commit to ensuring that in future, legislation evolving from Westminster is considered at an appropriate time, within a collective and mature strategy that puts the interests of the Scottish people at its heart?

Mike Bruce

Weslo Housing 
Management

North Bridge Street

Bathgate