THE debate in the UK Parliament on the WASPI issue saw yet again that the Tories have no interest in this issue. Instead of accepting there is a serious problem for the women affected by the changes to their state pension, all that the Tories could agree to was that there was a problem with communication. We get that. But accepting there was poor communication of the pension changes isn’t enough – the UK Government has to put money aside to deal with the problems this poor communication has created. The other Tory line was to offer these women apprenticeships! Really – how many 65-year-old apprentice plumbers do you want on a building site? Of course, when all else fails, the Tories then blame the Scottish Government and say that they should sort the issue out in Scotland.
READ MORE: Mhairi Black: Shameful Scots Tories are blocking justice for pensioners
Despite the fact we don’t have the powers or even the money (we’re on a fixed budget and to sort this would mean closures of schools, hospitals, etc) you have to ask, what is the point of paying any taxes (and national insurance) to Westminster? If the Tories want Scotland to sort the problem out then how about all taxes raised in Scotland stay in Scotland and each year Westminster can send us a bill for any shared services?
It was good to see part-time politician Douglas Ross actually appear in a debate. However, this Tory MP was more concerned about what an SNP press release had said about him than about the plight of the WASPI women. I find it hard to believe someone who is an assistant referee is so thin-skinned and easily hurt – I can’t help but wonder what his reaction is to football fans when they shout the almost obligatory comments at officials.
As usual, the star of the debate was Mhairi Black MP. Not only did she sum up the frustration of everyone who has supported the WASPI women but she managed to do it with far more dignity and flair than all the Tory MPs combined, especially Ross Thomson MP who looked like he was halfway to a heart attack with his contribution to the debate. Well done Mhairi and the SNP team for keeping the pressure up for the WASPI women.
Councillor Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
I UNDERSTAND that Maarten de Vries is sceptical of the information he’s seen regarding the Coul Links golf development proposals (Letters, November 30). If he goes to the Highland Council website using reference 17/04601/FUL he can view the documentation submitted by the developers and others. The responses are from the consultees and the comments of those in favour as well as those against. Of the 1063 comments from the public, 791 are against. But the 238 in favour mostly come from local people who live beside the site and want to see it being looked after so that generations to come can enjoy its beauty. That’s not going to happen if the objectors have their way since none of them are committing money to remove the invasive plant species already there and ensure they don’t re-invade.
We live here, we love this land, we want to keep it open for all to enjoy.
Catriona Grigg
Embo
I HAVE recently made a complaint to The Guardian regarding an article they ran on the regional differences in care home costs. The “regions” were Yorkshire, East Anglia and so on. However, Scotland was also listed as a region.
The Guardian stated it was acceptable to call Scotland a region of the UK. By that logic, England is also a region of the UK. Try telling that to Westminster.
The serious point in this is that we should not allow little Englanders to casually downgrade Scotland to anything less than a country without protest.
Ceri Williams
Cupar
REGARDING your article on oysters, I think “squatting” should read “spatting” (Oyster reefs to return to Dornoch Firth, The National, November 28).
“Spat” is the term for the development stage in the life of Ostrea edulis (native or flat oyster) when it’s getting ready to settle and become an oyster. Oysters have been eaten for thousands of years and were nearing extinction, such that now they are cultivated rather than “wild”. Fortunately for the cultivators, oysters don’t require vast quantities of SLICE or emamectin, the curse of salmon aquaculture.
Alison McAdam
Dundee
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