Letters: Bedroom tax is an attack on the poor and the disabled

Holyrood’s political elite may have been conspicuous by their absence at Edinburgh’s bedroom tax protest on March 30, but hundreds of cross-party rank-and-file demonstrators were not.

United, they marched to the Scottish Parliament to condemn a horrible tax that could be the Tories’ nemesis, just like the unfair poll tax was in the Thatcher era.

Slashing benefits and systematically dismantling the welfare state the Con/Dem coalition, with little or no opposition from New Labour, are disgracefully handing the savings to rich bankers and greedy tax evaders while the rest of us tighten our belts.

To cap it all, on April 1, the day the bedroom tax started, Britain’s super-rich were given a nice little earner from a tax cut that gives them over £100,000 a year. No, this was no April Fool, it was just another nasty attack on the disabled and the poor by a Con/Dem coalition encouraged by a weak and compliant New Labour administration that has no right to call itself the opposition party. Bin the bedroom tax.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh

Dave a hero? Ewe must be joking

How heroic was it of David Cameron to crown a lovely morning in the English countryside by plunging waste-deep into mud to save a ewe?

Joking aside, could anyone conceive of a more infantile measure to stage-manage an act of gallantry? It was conveniently witnessed by his two armed police guards, who allowed the principal male character to act out his moment of daring.

Perhaps, in the past, he should have shown real valour and saved the lives of countless human beings in Afghanistan and Iraq by withdrawing the troops from these forlorn lands when he came to power, instead of diving headlong into the quagmire of warfare, along with the sheep who followed him.

William Burns, Pennywell Road, Edinburgh

What future holds for ‘Lord’ Alex

When I look through my wee “squinty stone” to see the future, I imagine the independence referendum being lost by the separatists, and the Dear Leader declaring himself an ex-dear leader before the following December, in order to “allow his successor time” before the next Holyrood election.

He would then accept a knighthood, or elevation to the House of Lords in the next Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, declaring that he is accepting it not for himself, you understand, “but for Scotland”. If only life was so easy.

David Fiddimore, Calton Road, Edinburgh

Knowledge is needed for choice

Neil Barber’s letter (March 29) advising us the tradition of Easter eggs is of pagan origin, reveals much that is wrong with so-called secular thinking.

For his information, the Christmas tree is similarly derived from pagan origins.

All that this implies is that Christianity has always been confident enough to adopt and integrate the fun parts of earlier festivals, when people converted to Christianity. The secularists’ argument that “religion” should not be taught in schools as it is a “personal matter” is as specious as suggesting that mathematics should not be taught because the choice of becoming a mathematician is also a personal one. How can anyone make such a choice without knowing anything about it?

Mr Barber demonstrates his own lack of understanding of Christian beliefs with his juvenile misinterpretation of the meaning of Easter.

He should have studied harder at school. I could explain to him that Easter is about love, life, resurrection and renewal, but I suspect he wouldn’t understand, nor would he want to listen.

Howard Thompson, Pinkie Hill Crescent, Musselburgh

The roof almost came off for Alfie

I REFER to the review on the Alfie Boe concert by Josie Balfour (News, March 26).

Having been at Alfie’s concert, he deserved more than the three stars awarded. Surely Josie should go by the audience reaction – the applause was deafening, and when he got to Bring Him Home, the roof almost came off.

I would have gladly given Alfie Boe ten stars for his performance. So loosen up Josie, give credit when it’s due.

Karl Johansen, Edinburgh