I NORMALLY read with great interest and agree with most of Alan Hinnrichs’ contributions in the National Conversation, but in his latest letter (Rise in pensions age is the latest effect of the financial crash, August 19) I think he has missed a trick in that this started way before the crash of 2008.
The nationalisation of certain industries and services after World War Two created a wealthy economy which, whilst not brilliant, increased the general wellbeing of society at that time.
This wealth has been coveted by the ruling elite and successive governments have sought to shift assets to the elite to the detriment of the vast number of people in the UK these governments were supposedly elected to look after.
I may suggest our present woes, rather than as a result of the 2008 financial crash, began even when Macmillan was stating in the 1960s “you’ve never had it so good”. His minister of transport Ernest Marples (sponsored by the Road Haulage Association) was employing Dr Beeching to decimate the railways.
Therefore I suggest successive governments, elected to look after the health, welfare and security of the UK population, have failed in this duty.
It would seem to me they have only been interested in dismantling all state provision in favour of private provision, which means, of course, the middle man is able to cream off his share at the expense of the individual.
I have never agreed with this approach to government, which I consider is not based on the common good but rather greed.
An independent Scotland will allow a different perspective to be created.
David Myles
Tayport
PROPOSALS to raise the pension age to 75 are alarming for many and have not been thought through. How can a manual worker, working outside in all conditions, keeping the infrastructure of the country running, possibly be grouped in the same age bracket for retirement as one sitting in the comforts and heat of an office?
This proposal comes from a Conservative think-tank, the Centre for Social Justice. Is there any social justice for anyone in this proposal? Previous pensions ministers are condemning such a move, saying it must not be allowed to happen – but hold on, pensions and the age of qualifying for one’s state pension is yet another aspect of our lives that will be impacted by Brexit.
So is this in fact a No-Deal back-door contingency proposal from Downing Street!
After all, the latest from Downing Street on a No-Deal Brexit is that free movement of EU migrants will cease with immediate effect on October 31, the day we are leaving the EU according to PM Boris Johnson.
The devastating impact on our public and private services may well result in the acceleration of state pension age increases out of complete necessity.
Yet another example of Brexit that has not been thought through, with devastating consequences for us all.
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
AS regards the raising of pension age to age 75, surely the name of the organisation proposing it is a contradiction in terms, being called the Centre for Social Justice!
Steve Cunningham
Aberdeen
AS its name suggests, you would expect that The Great British Bake Off would have bakers taking part who fairly represent all four countries of our “precious” union.
However, having just read the publicity concerning the new series, I was interested to see that of the 13 contestants, 12 are resident in England and one lives in Wales.
Culturally and ethnically they are quite a diverse group of people, but it was still disappointing to see that there is only one candidate who has any connections with Scotland. He was born in Newcastle, but lived in Scone (quite appropriately given the name of the programme) from the age of seven, and went to university in Edinburgh. Poor old Northern Ireland doesn’t even get a look in.
The GBBO can really only earn its name if it includes contestants who live and work in all the countries of the United Kingdom, not just England. Imagine the outcry if nearly all the bakers were from Scotland.
Given that back in 2014 we were so loved and respected, perhaps The National could ask Channel Four why Scottish representation in the latest series of GBBO is so poor. The producers probably hadn’t even noticed or given it a second thought.
Alan Laing
Paisley
CAN’T help but observe with all that’s going on Ruth Davidson has been remarkably silent lately. Seems the daily Davidson has been dispensed with and replaced by the swivelling Swinson.
Iain Lappin
Blairgowrie
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