Security overkill

TOM Peterkin's article (13 March) highlights the surveillance "creep" of the security lobby into every facet of our day-to-day lives. The revelation that "millions are to be spent on an anti-terror guardhouse to protect MSPs" beggars belief.

Millions of pounds of public money have already been spent on bomb-proof doors and windows, anti-terror chicanes and bollards, but Scottish roads look like they have been attacked by a particularly virulent strain of chicken pox and a much-needed new Forth road bridge awaits proper funding, while the other one creaks like a door in a Hammer horror flick.

Are we saying that the billions spent on sending our Scots battalions to fight and die in Afghanistan isn't enough to protect the homeland security of our ivory-tower MSPs?

Isn't it about time that the members of the Scottish Parliament determined what their ideology is? If it is the freedom to let democracy flourish, then should they be cowering inside a concrete bunker while the rest of us take our chances with the Taleban?

It's time we put an end to the endless lobbying by security companies who thrive on a climate of keeping us safe through fear.

All MSPs should come out and reject the need for another concrete carbuncle – unless of course they're all going to hide in there when the next freedom of information request on expenses is published.

DAVID CRUICKSHANKS

Dalgety Bay

Dunfermline, Fife