I FOUND Alyn Smith’s article (This crisis means we have great opportunities ahead, April 1) to be upbeat and forward-looking, which is absolutely essential in these very difficult and challenging times.
It is satisfying to observe how the real people in Scotland have dealt with the emergency. In the first instance the Scottish Government drafted the necessary legislation and put it before the Scottish Parliament, and to their everlasting credit it was supported by all of the opposition parties – a united front in the face of an unseen enemy, the coronavirus.
READ MORE: Alyn Smith: Coronavirus crisis opens up some great opportunities
The result has been that the Scottish public, even although their freedom of movement has been temporarily curtailed, have respected the “advice” as is evidenced by the deserted streets.
As an octogenarian in “lockdown” I still require a modicum of medication, and phoned the local pharmacy in Balfron to find out if I would have to pick it up – perfectly legitimate under the rules. I was told that it not would be necessary as the medicine would be delivered to my home. Less than 24 hours later a Trossachs search-and-rescue pick-up truck, which I noted had been donated by the Arnold Clark organisation, delivered the medication to my front door. All that I had to do was to observe the social distancing rules, and in addition there was no charge for this outstanding service.
This is an example of our MSPs (irrespective of political allegiance), public, private and voluntary sectors all working together to provide an excellent service to the people in their community.
I believe from friends that this is being replicated in many other parts of the country and I feel proud and privileged to be part of a society which demonstrates such a high level of care for its people.
As an octogenarian my only contribution is that I will remain in “lockdown”. To all those involved – THANK YOU.
Thomas L Inglis
Fintry
HA! Wait a minute! I was about to write concerning the article “NHS staff visa extensions ‘don’t go far enough’”, but I looked at the date and I realised – this is probably an April Fool joke.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: Home Office to extend NHS workers' UK visas
Even the Tory government can’t be that inconsiderate! I mean, “You’re doing a great job helping us to overcome this virus, so we are going to extend all your visas for 12 months. But once it’s over we will have to think again about whether or not we want you in our country, because, after all, you are immigrants, therefore second-class citizens”.
Don’t forget this is coming from Priti Patel, a member of a family of immigrant stock. Naw, it’s got to be an April Fool, surely?
Charlie Kerr
Glenrothes
BEFORE writing this email I had to do a double take, thinking it was an April Fool prank. However, the article by Mathew Lindsay in the April 1 edition of The National, (Hearts’ legal threat is ‘absolute nonsense’) didn’t smack of an April Fool being played on the readers but rather a foolish article by Mathew Lindsay.
Where do you start? Legal action against the SPFL and the SFA is long overdue, it’s criminal what they get away with.
“This is a league you are invited to” may be in the rules but it isn’t applied. The SPFL relegated to the lower divisions Glasgow Rangers, one of the biggest financial contributors to the League coffers, and the League suffered the revenue loss for years afterwards. That’s a “criminal” decision no matter how it is viewed – “cutting off your nose to spite your face” is what it is by amateurs in the League management.
READ MORE: Hearts told to quit the SPFL if they can't accept relegation ruling
Mathew then goes on to say: “Legal action is what’s caused the problems in the disciplinary system with the compliance officer”. What “compliance officer”? Never in footballing history has bias been so visible as in the actions, or rather inactions, of a compliance officer. If you don’t believe me then let the statistics speak for themselves.
The problem with the compliance office is that it is not impartial, being run by someone who has no idea about football and with “links” to another football club in the Premier Division. Hardly “impartial” in my book.
So, the “blazers” of Hampden very generously took a 10% wage cut from their already overpaid prince’s ransom they “earn”, which is often more that a football club owners’ remuneration.
They cannot see that the race has been run and none of the horses have crossed the finishing line so there are no winners, we are all losers (except the bookmakers and the SFA blazers, they ALWAYS get paid).
So, it’s not “nonsense”, as Stewart Gilmour claims, but very necessary in these troubled times.We all have to accept that Ann Budge should seek legal recourse.
I totally agree with her – take the SFA and the SPFL to court and see how the real legal system administers fair and impartial decisions, something sadly lacking with today’s Scottish football administrators.
Jim Todd
Cumbernauld
LISTENING to the shambles of the Westminster response to the coronavirus, one as yet unspoken thought springs to mind.
If a large company with a huge workforce had put its employees at risk of their lives, through ignoring the results of a previous study, lack of the elements of a safe working environment, and delaying essential measures until many employees had died, would the management not be charged in a court of law with corporate manslaughter?
Is Westminster not the management of our population? So what’s different?
L McGregor
Falkirk
DOES Boris Johnson still intend selling the NHS to the USA?
M Ross
Aviemore
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