Chancellor should put low paid first - your view

Intro

Chancellor should put low paid first

There are reports that Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, wants to impose a pay freeze on millions of public sector workers to pay for the astronomical costs of Covid-19. The Public and Commercial Services Union and Unison warned of possible industrial action.

Public sector employees were paid during lockdown, whereas private sector employees suffered a 20 per cent reduction and hundreds of thousands lost their jobs.

There is sympathy for lower paid workers in the public sector, so they should get a 4 per cent increase, but nothing for those earning over £40,000.

Union leaders, council employees and academics who are getting over £80,000 should take an immediate 20 per cent pay cut. Let's not forget our politicians, where an immediate 20 per cent reduction would be welcomed. These suggestions would ensure pay rises for those who deserve it are funded by those who do not.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow.

Care home residents need double tests

I'm astounded that hospital patients in Scotland are still being discharged to care homes without two negative Covid-19 tests.

SNP Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman thinks this is fine, under 'exceptional' circumstances. Every time a vulnerable or elderly person dies as a consequence, it's an exceptional circumstance for them and their bereaved families.

In the first wave of the pandemic, deaths rates in percentage terms in Scottish care homes were significantly higher in Scotland than England.

Why isn't the SNP administration learning from its mistakes?

Martin Redfern, Melrose Roxburghshire.

Cyclists must do more to help themselves

Your article "Concerns as cycling fatalities increase to a six-year high" (News, November 21) is worrying, but I do wonder if cyclists are sometimes to blame.

I work as a driver in the Edinburgh area and often travel to work early in the morning and back late at night. The number of cyclists I see without lights on these dark mornings/evenings is unreal

I have even seen a couple of cyclists with children on a rear-mounted seat and again without lights. If cyclists can’t do something as simple as invest in a set of lights, then I am not surprised they are getting injured.

If any other road user was going around without using lights the police would soon be pulling them over and handing out a fine. Why is this not the case with cyclists?

I call for a cycling tax, compulsory insurance, a cycle MOT looking out for defects such as no lights, compulsory cycle training both practical and theory and a registration or identification tag so they can be traced after an incident.

Mr Alastair Macintyre Webster Place, Rosyth, Fife.

Wealth creation still matters in Scotland

Helen Martin’s column (News, November 23), while harbouring a germ of truth in its supposition that HMG don’t get or even like devolution, completely loses the plot in her delivery.

“England has a completely different take on life…its number one goal is to promote wealth”. Eh? Are they not bipeds living on the same island? How do we suppose Scotland will survive without promoting wealth?

Such turgid baloney used to be a hallmark of the radical left; now it seems to be mainstream north of the Border. “All us other nations have a more sympathetic...attitude”. Crikey. Judging by Helen's article we don’t.

Fraser Hudghton, South Crescent, Prestonpans.