Letter: Social debate

Joyce McMillan claimed that supporters of "social justice" are "increasingly dismissed as dinosaurs" (Perspective, 8 April).

"Social justice" is a concept that presents itself as self- evidently positive (who could support "social injustice"?), yet covers a range of measures and goals that are no self-evidently effective or desirable. "Equal", "fair", and "progressive" are similar Trojan horse terms, to which we are expected to throw open our city gates without question.

She was right, however, to decry the superficiality of image campaigning and the prominence given to face-to-face encounters with aggressive lone campaigners.

I would like to see more one-to-one debates between politicians, allowing deeper analysis of views.

RICHARD LUCAS

Broomyknowe

Colinton, Edinburgh