The loud crowd

We try to teach our children respect and manners. I therefore would ban all schools from sitting in the gallery at First Minister’s questions. There is a Presiding Officer who needs to step up and stop the insults in the chamber.

Last week Nicola Sturgeon called Ruth Davidson “a waste of space”. This resulted in wild cheering and clapping from SNP members. No matter who is addressing the chamber it should be remembered that they are there because their constituents wanted them. We do live in a democracy, after all.

And I doubt Nicola Sturgeon has any idea of the work that is done in Ms Davidson’s area by her and her team. It does not do any credit to a person who has the job of representing a country when she reduces her standing to that of a bad mannered, disrespectful loudmouth.

And to all those who are about to say “they all do it”, maybe the person in the top job should rise above the rest?

DORIS MH DUFF Belmont Gardens, Edinburgh

Over the years politicians and councillors seem to have moved away from serving the public. Instead of human and monetary resources being used on roads, health, education, police and fire services, more and more of the money from the public purse is being spent on our employees increasing their numbers and becoming so called celebrities.

They travel the globe, are photographed at every opportunity in newspapers and magazines, and are receiving more and more exposure on television programmes – what’s not to like, choosing politics as a career.

I have come to the conclusion that if politicians and councillors were chocolate they would eat themselves.

MARGARET WALLACE Broomfield Avenue, Cumnock