In a flag flap

A pair of pensioners have been told to take down flags outside their homes – because they might be deemed offensive. The next-door neighbours adorn the backs of their flats with Saltires, Union flags and Rangers FC flags.

There is nothing wrong with these flags. One is the Scottish flag, the other the British flag. So what’s the problem? I think that the councillors need to go to Spec Savers to get their eyes checked. So what if they have Rangers on it?

Rachel Mccann There’s been a Saltire proudly flying at the end of my street for years. Always feel proud when I see it. Mind you, the owner’s surname is Scotland, so that might have something to do with it!

Roy Douglas Why is it the crime of the century if someone is offended? It all comes back to freedom of speech, something that’s been seriously eroded.

Gregory Fleming Are they not a bit old for tribalism and winding up the Celtic fans?

Jacqui Jackson

I prefer the Saltire but the Union flag doesn’t offend me. I wonder who they offend?

Debbie Sutherland

I’ll hazard a guess. Those who are easily triggered.

James Taylor

People are too sensitive these days. Let these old guys fly the flags – what harm are they doing? In Scotland there has always been a Celtic or Rangers thing going on. We’ve lived with it for years so what’s different now. People need to mind their own business.

Annie Lindsay Scottish Tory MP Colin Clark, who has been appointed as a junior minister at the Scotland Office, has been denied a pay rise while his English colleague will get nearly £25,000 on top of his MP salary.

Oh the inequality! What a shame Colin. Still, it won’t have as much impact on you as your constituents who have already waited six months for their Carer’s Allowance to be reinstated and have been told the waiting time is three years.

Linda Donnelly Apparently it’s not only Johnson that thinks he’s worthless.

Ni Holmes Perhaps Colin should change his title from pretendy junior minister to assistant tea boy.

James Kirk A major supermarket is to trial till-less technology in four Edinburgh stores, allowing customers to scan and pay by phone.

Great way to put shop staff out of a job. People need to refuse to serve themselves.

Sarahjane Mclaren

I always make a point of using a staffed check out.

Margaret Forshaw

The issue with all these “people will lose their jobs” arguments is that serving customers is a small part of all the necessary graft that goes into keeping a shop clean and continually stocked up. Most shops are understaffed, so every spare pair of hands to clean shelves and put out new stock is needed. Not everybody enjoys queuing up, and not everyone wants to be served by a person. Having this new technology will provide a choice, and ease up pressure on other areas of the stores.

Ellie Mayze You’re assuming that the people who work the tills will be reassigned to a different role (or the equivalent number of shop maintenance staff will be hired). The more likely scenario is that they’re out of jobs and the other employee numbers stay the same.

Meg MW The main reason shops are doing this is to save money.! It’s not about the customers. Sacking staff saves money.

James Melvin A strike by Lothian bus drivers has been suspended after drivers were given “further assurances about harassment and bullying”.

Hopefully sense has prevailed and any strike won’t happen over this important time of year for our economy, visitors and residents.

Chris Storey

Shame. I was looking forward to driving without being behind five buses.

Grant Mcneil

It was always on the cards that it would be called off.

Steven Oliver

Yes it’s inconvenient for a lot of people but being subjected to the harassment and bullying is a far bigger issue than people not being able to use the buses.

Ashley Dee Striking is not a real option. It causes mayhem which really helps no-one.

Yvonne Ramsay Bem