Many things, but not democracy

Sir, – Derek Farmer’s defence of the British Empire is somewhat disingenuous (“Different time, different views”, Letters, June 25).

He has previously told of the wonderful legacy the British Empire left the conquered countries when forced to leave and claims Empire occurred at a different time, with different political thinking. Yet many of those who did the massacring then are “celebrated”.

People such as Cromwell and Churchill are put on banknotes, and the Empire is glorified through the UK honours system.

Mr Farmer says it is “risible” to say full fiscal powers are necessary to run an economy. This is both bizarre and nonsensical, as Mr Farmer does not want Holyrood to have these powers, yet he and the other Unionists want the SNP to use the powers they don’t have to stimulate the economy.

He concludes that Britain is a “democracy”. In Scotland there has been a decade of Tory misrule though austerity. Scotland did not vote for the Tory government and is being dragged out of the EU having voted to remain. The Scottish Government have a mandate from the people for an independence referendum, which the Tories refuse to recognise. That is many things but it’s not democracy.

Alan Hinnrichs. 2 Gillespie Terrace, Dundee.

The government of Israel should be criticised for its treatment of the people on the Gaza Strip and their building of settlements on Palestinian land. ALISTER RANKIN

publication of which he and his family’s lawyers have been trying to suppress.

Recent Oxfam research reporting that 26 billionaires own as many assets as the poorest half of the world’s population revived memories of our lovely erstwhile neighbours, Robert and Mary, who met an American millionaire while holidaying in Florida. Charmed by their Scottish accents, he took a shine to them, inviting them to a party on his luxury yacht.

As guests voiced their frustration at a stock market dip jeopardising further acquisitions of yachts and properties, Mary wondered innocently: “But there must come a time, surely, when you feel you have enough?”

The shocked silence that ensued was finally broken by a whispered: “There is NEVER enough!”

This phrase, now a byword in our household, is invoked at each new report of unbridled greed.

James Stevenson. Drummond Avenue, Auchterarder.