National crisis
Back in 1991 the then Scottish National Orchestra dropped “National” from its name to become the Royal Scottish Orchestra (RSO), my understanding being that some thought the word as having parochial connotations. Well, that is until it was rumoured the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra proposed to add “National” to their own name, at which point a quick U-turn took place, with the orchestra then becoming the now muchloved RSNO.
So, Nicola Sturgeon, there is nothing negative with the designation per se!
However, an extreme element within the SNP tarnishes the national/nationalist mantra and one suspects that no matter how the SNP might wish to re-brand, the same negative image will remain in the absence of a more tolerant approach to those of different views.
MIKE DUNSMORE Lansdowne Crescent, Edinburgh
Labour councillor Scott Arthur attacks the SNP (Letters, 29 August), which is ironic as he is supposed to be in partnership with them in Edinburgh City Council.
However, he ends his last paragraph by saying sarcastically, “just take a look at what Nationalism has achieved across Scotland and the world”.
Well, for starters, across the world it has achieved independence for a host of countries from India to Ireland.
As for Scotland, despite the handicap of having every effort derided and sabotaged by the opposition, the SNP has a remarkable list of achievements, a few of which are free university education, free care for the elderly, free prescriptions, abolition of bridge tolls, a host of new road and rail projects, the best hospital waiting times in the UK, and to top it all off, the new Queensferry Crossing, which the Labour Party did their best to stop, both at Westminster and Holyrood.
JAMES DUNCAN Rattray Grove, Edinburgh
The misguided SNP free student fees flagship policy has now ended up with more than half the students doing jobs that don’t require a degree, according to a report from the Office of National Statistics.
This terrible waste of resources and taxpayers’ money could have been avoided by a more even-handed SNP policy of encouraging more school leavers to enter apprentice- ships and learn a trade that will see them equipped for life.
I know of many young electricians and joiners who are earning much more than graduates, many of whom were misled into doing a degree only to end up working in a supermarket or pub on national minimum wages.
DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN
Mugiemoss Road Bucksburn, Aberdeen