JUDITH Duffy (Sunday National, October 4) listed 10 great things Holyrood has given to Scotland. How could she have missed land reform? How can voters forget that it took a Scottish Parliament freed from the landowners in the House of Lords to abolish feudalism after 300 years? Then MSPs passed the Land Reform Act of 2003 which was built on by the Community Empowerment and Land Reform Acts in 2015 and 2016.
These are radical for a devolved parliament, including world-leading access rights, extended community right to buy and the recent Statement of Land Rights and Responsibilities, another word first for an advanced industrial nation.
READ MORE: Here are 10 things that Holyrood has given Scotland
In the previous Sunday’s paper, Mike Russell wrote that only independence will remove the scar of socially corrosive land ownership. One “left-wing” online critic claimed that “land reform is entirely within the power of the Scottish Government now”, therefore the devolved government lacked “vision and determination”.
Last weekend’s edition has Sandy Slater from Stirling being “dumbfounded” that the Scottish Government has not shown “courage and conviction” to deliver land reform.
I’ve been an active land reformer for decades and for 13 years served at Holyrood, the last five shepherding the 2015 and 2016 Acts forward. To these critics in the “get it done now” tendency, here’s a thought – if it were possible, why would the SNP not have completed land reform by now? Vision and courage our MSPs have, with all parties bar the Tories in favour.
In my forthcoming book Reclaiming Our Land I explore how the processes of law-making can take ten years. But I’m sure Judith Duffy and many city dwellers will see land reform increasing in their sight as the 2015 and 2016 Acts intended. In both town and country, removing the scars of socially corrosive and high concentrated land ownership will be easier with independence and bringing into play the borrowing powers so elusive to the devolved settlement.
Rob Gibson
Evanton, Ross-shire
IN Monday’s National, Alan Riach’s article was excellent on Karel Capek’s travel though England. I was particularly taken by the quote of Capek, “The English Countryside is not for work but for show.”
The famous English landscape painters of the 19th century are a perfect example of this. Perfect thatched cottages, pristine farmyards with healthy, fed and clean workers. Aye you have to admire how their propaganda works to this day. Since they pillaged to build an empire, the English have never been self-sufficient and it’s their poor who suffer.
Countryside that could be farmed was set aside for the sporting estates of the inherited or stolen lands from the people.
READ MORE: Karel Capek visits England: The dark heart of an aged empire
Aye, the gentry did keep farms going, with many farm workers paid in kind. Many rural folk were forced to the industrialised cities to live in appalling housing, and those were the lucky ones. A good portion of these young men were perfect to take the king’s shilling, even drafted into private armies to traffic drugs amongst other dastardly deeds.
War and post-war rationing was due to not producing enough food and relying on empire-imported food.
The Etonians still believe they rule the waves. High food prices and medicine shortages next year will be the fault of Jonny Foreigner. The working and non-working class of Engerland will be hoodwinked into believing this. A few in Scotland too.
Karel Capek stated about urban England, London in particular, “for the first time in my life I experienced a blind and furious repugnance to modern civilisation”.
It will become very repugnant. Time for Scotland to leave and return to the real world.
Bryan Clark
Maybole
HALF the population are involved – a challenge for anyone and everyone, even our precious NHS.
I speak of the “flu jag” in 2020, a year like no other. Your letters pages have carried some negative experiences and criticism of the Scottish Government’s organising of the roll-out of flu vaccinations, with many feeling let down and put under pressure to travel to receive their annual inoculation. My experience has been very different and I would like to share this with others.
READ MORE: Why are vulnerable Scots being asked to travel for their flu jabs?
I received my letter about 10 days ago with clear instructions and appointment time. Yes, I had to travel to the middle of Falkirk, which for me was not an issue as I drive, however I do recognise this could be an issue for others, but we must remember we are in the midst of a global pandemic and normal service is not available in those times.
On arrival at Falkirk Town Hall, all Covid rules were evident for all to see, sanitisers, face masks, social distancing. The queue moved efficiently, the staff /medical team operated with efficiency and thoroughness and my whole experience was over within 15 minutes of arrival. I do appreciate the concerns of some, but in the midst of this massive global pandemic, we all need to take a deep breath and recognise the massive effort being put in place by the Scottish Government and our NHS staff in rolling-out our annual inoculation. They are on the front line, doing all they can to keep the nation healthy.
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
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