Labour must change stance on Scottish independence - your views

Intro

Anas Sarwar and Monica Lennon are the two candidates for the leadership of Scottish Labour.

Labour must change independence view

In 1945 a radical Labour government legislated for an improved welfare state that is still held in high esteem today, especially by those who can't afford private health care.

After short spells in power in 1964 and 1974, Labour regained power in 1997.

Under Tony Blair, the ideological principles on which the party was formed were obfuscated by a more 'pragmatic' agenda.

Labour's gradual divide had started and has now developed into a major split from which the party has never recovered.

This divide was more evident in Scotland where Labour completely underestimated and never quite understood the move towards independence.

Scottish Labour then went on to make a massive error of judgement by standing shoulder to shoulder with the Tories under the nasty banner of ‘project fear’.

Once this rumour mill started to turn, it did frighten many potential independence supporters, particularly the elderly, who were told their pensions would plummet id they voted Yes. It did work because the older generation tended to vote No.

Once again, Scottish Labour is about to elect another leader. Regardless of who it is, he or she must apologise for the party's involvement in project fear and agree with the right of the Scottish people to have autonomy, even if they do not agree with independence.

Candidate Monica Lennon appears to have taken this position, but her opponent Anas Sarwar does not recognise this right.

If the SNP wins a majority in the election, Labour should honour the will of the people of Scotland or face a deeper split from which the party might never recover.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh.

Boris sends wrong signal on face masks

Due to numerous health conditions I have been shielding for a full year and live alone.

When I have deliveries, I don't even open the door until the driver has gone and then put on a mask and gloves when I carry the delivery into my home.

Have I been wasting money and energy with PPE and spraying everything with antibacterial for a year when our own Prime Minister was seen in Worcestershire recently, due to the floods, and neither he nor anyone else in the area kept to social distancing?

Worse than that, that not one person, least of all the PM, wore a mask.

I was so looking forward to the vaccine, thinking at last I will be able to get outside. But if our PM can ignore social distancing and no one wore a mask, even those who were there from the environment agencies, what am I shielding/self isolating for?

Elaine Pomeransky, Restalrig Gardens, Edinburgh.

Politicians can show worth with wage cut

In official figures analysed by the Taxpayers' Alliance, on average MPs cost nearly £240,000 for their salaries and expenses in 2020/21.

There are 650 MPs with a basic salary of £81,932. In addition there are about 800 politicians in the House of Lords and 129 Scottish MSPs. Add 1227 local councillors in Scotland, about 20,000 in England and Wales and 462 in Northern Ireland and the cost of democracy becomes horrendous. Taxpayers are certainly not getting value for money. It is time for a cull on these numbers.

During Covid these political animals enjoyed full salaries, so is it not time for them to show that "we are all in it together" by taking a 20 per cent salary and expenses cut?

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow.