Davis’s intervention showed worth of Westminster

Sir, – In a historic example of the UK democracy we Scots thankfully still enjoy, David Davis used the Westminster parliamentary privilege not available to Holyrood MSPS to light a fuse under the SNP’S disgraceful handling of the Salmond affair.

He then called for greater powers of accountability to be conferred on Holyrood, a timely reminder the Scottish Parliament gets it power and existence from the UK.

In stark contrast to that statesman-like reverse power grab offer, the SNP’S Pete

Wishart said on Twitter: “Jeezo, the Tories are currently considering using the pretext of the Salmond inquiry to impose its will on our Parliament and determine the role and authority of the Lord Advocate. They are now actually preparing a full assault on our institutions.”

If ever we needed an example of why Scottish voters and pro-uk parties need to come together and tactically vote this gang out on May 6, it is this.

Allan Sutherland. Willow Row, Stonehaven.

“I watched The Towering Inferno for the umpteenth time the other night and was very interested in Steve Mcqueen’s last words in the film,” writes an Angus reader.

“Acting the part of the fire chief, he said to the architect, played by Paul Newman: ‘You know, one of these days you’re gonna kill 10,000 in one of these firetraps and I’m just gonna keep eatin’ smoke and bringin’ out bodies until somebody asks us how to build ’em.’

“It made me think of 9/11 and the Grenfell Tower disaster and I wondered why we still put up buildings that are so high firefighters

cannot reach most of the storeys from the outside?

“It seems crazy – and criminally careless with human lives.”

Regarding Jack Reilly’s book at the Caledon Shipyard in Dundee, he has been in touch with the column and provided some information.

“I have a few copies of the 2021 edition, the fifth edition of the book,” he says, “and as soon as the Mcmanus Galleries bookshop is able to open again, they will be on sale to the general public. The original book of 2012 contained 408 pages, while the 2021 edition has 576 pages.”