Letters: Democracy has spoken in Scotland. . and it said No

I read the letter by Mr William Burns (News, September 22) with growing alacrity, and thought to myself “why does the Editor print the thoughts of people like the afore-mentioned chap”? until I remembered that Mr Burns has the democratic right to voice his opinions – that’s what it is like to live in Scotland and the UK.

Greyfriar's Bobby has a shiny nose. Picture: Joey Kelly

In saying that, by implication, he is calling me a non-Scot, because of the way I used my democratic right to vote in a way I saw fit. I am as Scottish and perhaps more so, as Mr B likes to believe he is.

Let’s get one thing straight here, I wasn’t scared to vote Yes as Mr Burns, Tommy Sheridan and Martin Hannan et al have implied, I voted No, along with all the other No voters, simply because we wanted to preserve the status quo. We wanted to continue sharing, and carrying forward our 307 years of world famous history.

Mr Burns states that he believes that Glasgow should now be considered the new capital of Scotland. Excuse me, did I miss something, did Glasgow people vote 100 per cent Yes? No they did not! Thousands upon thousands voted No. That, Mr Burns is democracy at work.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Glasgow, it’s a fantastic city. Edinburgh though is the Capital, and will remain so.

I keep hearing from Yes voters how it was fantastic that over one and a half million people voted Yes, conveniently forgetting the over two million who voted No. That two million amounts to more than the total people who voted in the 2011 Scottish election, when a minority of the voters saw the SNP elected.

That, Mr Burns, is democracy at work.

Jim Taylor, Essendean Place, Edinburgh

Sturgeon not right for leadership

Nicola Sturgeon is not the person to take the SNP further. Let’s not forget that Alex Salmond left Westminster to lead the SNP in Holyrood.

We need a dynamic leader, a young MSP who has been waiting in the wings. Nicola is part of the old system, she should resign as well.

We need a leader to take the SNP further, not a has-been.

James E Fraser, Cockburn Street, Edinburgh

Tackle disadvantaged areas in whole of UK

One crucially important question remaining unanswered following the Scottish referendum is what can actually be done about severely disadvantaged areas in the UK.

It is arguable that there were two main reasons why many Scots voted Yes. One is that they are keenly aware of their separate identity and feel this can only be enjoyed if they become a separate nation. The other is that people in many areas feel their prospects are grim and believe that any change might bring about an improvement.

It is reasonable to ask whether one particular degree of devolution rather than another might provide the better solution. Politicians are long on talk but tend to fall short on results.

Now we remain one nation they should quickly conclude their devo-which? discussions and apply the whole nation’s resources to solving the whole nation’s problems.

Ross Charlton, Peter Avenue, Oxted, Surrey

Care was excellent during hospital stay

Recently I spent two weeks in the Western General Hospital in ward 54 as an emergency. I was very poorly when I was admitted but the kindness of the staff was a real comfort to me: nothing was too much bother. The doctors and consultants were so approachable and talked to you as an equal, so you were not afraid to ask any important questions.

The hospital was spotlessly clean to a very high standard. Also, once I regained my appetite, the food was consistently excellent with a varied menu.

Keep up the good work, NHS – I was quite sorry to leave!

Margaret Easton, Aged 71, Edinburgh

The biggest threat to mankind is mankind

Celebrities, including actress Emma Thompson, have joined demonstrators to demand politicians tackle global warming. Celebrities’ lifestyles are not exactly carbon neutral. The biggest threat to mankind is mankind.

There are 7.3 billion people in the world today and United Nations estimates say this will be well over 9.5 billion by 2050 but I do not hear any demonstrators talking of birth control.

Some pertinent facts.

The West is responsible for approximately 30 per cent of global emissions.

China warned that there would be no climate deal in New York UN Climate Conference unless wealthy nations dramatically increased their emission targets. China’s demands are a smoke screen as they continue to build hundreds of “dirty” coal-fired plants.

India says it will not give in to pressure at the “unimportant” UN climate summit. They too are opening coal-fired plants at a steady rate and sending space craft to Mars.

The celebrities and their entourage should demonstrate in China and India. Would we ever see them again?

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow