Bully for Fraser

The bullying of Scottish civil servants is quite unacceptable and hardly surprising given the SNP’S desire to control every aspect of government. However, it appears to have passed Murdo Fraser by, or been deliberately ignored, that his puppet masters in the Cummings/johnson/gove administration are using precisely the same tactics to ensure that any opposition is removed at Westminster (Scotsman, August 19).

If he is genuinely so concerned then he should abandon the Conservative Party and join one that still has some principles. I won’t hold my breath though.

PAULINE CARRUTHERS

Dormont, Lockerbie

the ladder to the gallows and became the last person in Britain to be executed for blasphemy.

The proposed Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill is a mule-headed mallet to crack the Scottish blasphemy nut. Freedom of speech (enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights), has several vital functions in a democracy. It allows for dissent of prevailing opinion, allows the airing of offensive opinions that can then be openly refuted and it helps us refine our views. Controlling free speech empowers bullies and empowers government officials to decide what speech is acceptable and what is not.

DOUG CLARK Muir Wood Grove, Currie,

Midlothian