Readers' Letters: It's a myth that there is a Scottish 'middle class'

Apparently First Minister John Swinney encouraged activists at the closed session of the SNP conference on Friday to go out to win back middle class voters.

Mr Swinney should understand that the middle class is a myth created by the upper class to have the working class believe there is a ladder to the top. The truth is that unless you have surplus wealth so that you are not obliged to sell your labour or the product of your labour you are nothing other than working class. The only difference made if there is more money in your pay packet than most folk have is that it may be a matter of months rather than weeks or days without employment before you start to run into debt. Having more cash does not make you middle class, as it does not release you from the necessity of selling your labour.

What is really needed, Mr Swinney, is work to convince affluent workers that they are still working class and to encourage solidarity between all workers. Only then can we fully address the greed of wealthy libertarians that is choking our country and hindering the social justice that must be at the heart of an independent Scotland.

First Minister John Swinney delivers his address at the SNP annual national conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Sunday (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

Ni Holmes, St Andrews, Fife

Titanic moments

There was a weird parallel in the news over the last two days. First, there was the news that the rail on the prow of the RMS Titanic had fallen off since she was last filmed. Clearly, the sea is reclaiming her own. The largest liner in the world in 1912 is no match for the north Atlantic.

Then, as if by some strange quirk of fate, John Swinney creaked to his feet before an enormously depleted and aged audience of Scottish nationalists at the SNP annual conference, to roar defiance at the world, despite the rail having fallen off the SNP at the recent election. Oh, cruel, cruel world, he seemed to be crying, rather like an English king crying, “A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!” Indeed, the horse has bolted and John Swinney is trying desperately to bolt the stable door.

As if speaking to the deflated and defeated rows of stunned SNP supporters could somehow inspire the Scottish people to rise as one with a renewed sense of purpose, Mr Swinney reiterated his belief in independence for Scotland. It was thin pickings and showed that the SNP's armoury is empty. No new policies. No explanation for their routing at the polls. Just more of the same old, same old.

One could almost feel sympathy for him.

Almost.

Andrew HN Gray, Edinburgh

All-inclusive

It was pleasing, but hardly a surprise, to see it acknowledged that, according to research from Sir John Curtice, the nationalism behind support for Scottish independence was a “rather different” concept of identity to the nationalism underpinning Brexit (your report, 3 September).

Focusing as it did on sovereignty and immigration, it is noted that the argument for Brexit was more exclusive in tone than a campaign for Scottish independence that suggested Scotland should pool its sovereignty with the EU, and which promoted a civic understanding of who is Scottish. For many generations, Scottish nationalists have been lambasted as being “anti-English”, “racist”, “narrow-minded” and “parochial”.

Research from Professor Curtice now shows that in Scotland, 59 per cent of those who oppose independence say that being born in Scotland matters to being truly Scottish. Among supporters of independence the figure is 50 per cent. Indeed, 51 per cent of Unionists say Scottish ancestry matters to being Scottish, while only 42 per cent of independence supporters agree. So, it appears that those who support independence are more inclusive in nature than those who oppose it and support a civic notion of Scottish identity.

The irony in all this is that supporters of the Union are more likely to bear the exclusive and unpleasant nationalist traits they accuse supporters of Scottish independence as having and may want to pause and reflect, given the findings of this report.

Alex Orr, Edinburgh

Peers still here

Tim Flinn seems to think that the recent election was an example of “unfettered democracy” (Letters, 3 September). In reality, democracy in the UK has always been fettered by its unelected legislators, the peers.

Currently there are 805 unelected peers (not including Catherine Smith KC), of whom five were appointed after the election by Keir Starmer, with the aid of the King. These five, along with a further 15 peers, hold posts in the government. The Labour Party said in 1910: “The Lords must go”, and has failed to deliver. Keir Starmer’s continued use of patronage shows “No Change”.

E Campbell, Newton Mearns, East, Renfrewshire

Wasteful inquiries

It is an indisputable fact that public Inquiries take years and cost millions. Even so, that four inquiries currently in progress in Scotland have so far cost the public purse just over £190m must raise questions about value for money.

A top function of such an inquiry is usually said to be the learning of lessons. There are other ways to do this that cost much less and are much faster. On 28 November 1996 I was instructed by the Secretary of State for Scotland to chair an Expert Group to examine the circumstances leading to an E.coli O157 outbreak in central Scotland (five victims had died), advise him on the implications for food safety and the lessons to be learned, and submit priority recommendations by 31 December. This was done (by which time 18 victims had died and nearly 500 people had fallen ill) and he made a statement about it in the House of Commons on 15 January 1997. Food safety rules were significantly improved. A subsequent criminal trial established culpability.

My report cost £45,000.

Hugh Pennington, Aberdeen

Pity all victims

It is encouraging to read about the hundreds of thousands of Israeli protesters taking to the streets of Tel Aviv (your report, 3 September).

While the immediate subject of the protests is the cruel holding and unforgivable killing of Israeli hostages by Hamas, I hope that these protests embrace the desperate plight of the more than 40,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, many of them women and children.

Whatever the human cost, this war is unwinnable and faces the escalation of the unpalatable involvement of Iran, among others. What is clear is that the majority on both sides wish to live in peace, but a peace that is satisfactory to both sides.

One would have thought that the Jews, of all people, who were homeless until the founding of the Jewish state in 1947, would sympathise with the people of Palestine, who were rendered homeless as a result.

Until the Palestinians are granted their sovereign state, there cannot be peace in this unhappy region and I suspect that there are many Israelis, and indeed Jews, who accept this solution.

Ian Petrie, Edinburgh

Sitting ducks

One way to reduce the number of mobile phones stolen on the street is by users reducing the amount of time they spend staring vacantly at the phone and ignoring clamorous kiddies, often trailing behind them, and ignoring anything happening around them, such as.masked bike riders racing up to them eyeing their phone before grabbing it from under their noses. I only use my phone in public if I need to make an urgent call or answer one from Mum.

The current obsession with mobiles has led to many users making themselves sitting ducks for thieves. Common sense, not more legislation, is the best way to foil phone thieves: would you stand openly counting the money in your wallet on the street? Too many people now don't have the sense with which they were born. Don't make it easy for the thieves!

Steve Hayes, Leven, Fife

Young adults?

What do we call 16 year olds? I ask because the question of moving children (ie under-18s aka) from Young Offenders Institutions has been all over the news. But these same 16 and 17-year-olds can get a housing tenancy and have children when 16 and 17 because our government deems them adults. So which are they, children or adults?

Elizabeth Hands, Armadale, West Lothian

Raise the roof

In response to the debate on anthems at Murrayfield where I have stood for 60-plus years for God save the Queen, Scotland the Brave and the present dirge, I would suggest Highland Cathedral (Vocal Mix) by Kelly Brown and the Scottish Rugby Squad from the CD Christmas with The Broons. It’s a great pipe tune with stirring words describing Scotland to unite All Scottish Rugby Supporters.

Tom Cullen, Esher, Surrey

Tourist tax

I have concerns about the introduction of a tourist tax in Edinburgh. As usual, the city councillors can only see the pound signs in their eyes.

What they have not yet outlined for us is the cost of collection and administration. The council have little or no concept of “overheads”. How may new staff will have to be employed to administer the tax and how many tourist tax inspectors will be working in the field? I suspect they will begin to spend before a penny has been raised and the net income will be well short of the £50m they expect.

Alastair Paisley, Edinburgh

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