IT beggars belief that Ruth Davidson did not see the storm over her PR job coming. Anyone can see the glaring conflict of interest with her role as an MSP, so was it about the money or the ego (Davidson drops lobby firm job following outcry, October 30)?
To make it worse, she is said to have “sat down with Scottish Parliamentary officials in advance to go through the code of conduct, in detail, in order to avoid any conflict”.
READ MORE: Ruth Davidson drops PR role after public and industry backlash
If this is true, then there is something seriously wrong with the code of conduct and the common sense of both Davidson and these officials.
It is right that a bill is being brought forward to ban MSPs from having second jobs.
Dennis White
Blackwood
IN what was the last Prime Minister’s Questions of this parliamentary session, party leaders and MPs put on a rather buoyant show in the House of Commons as they vied for the attention of the Speaker – a Speaker who was leading and ruling from the front in his last PMQs, after 10 years in post.
One MP who managed to grab his attention was Conservative John Lamont MP (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk), who true to form as a Scottish Conservative could not help himself as he raised the issue of Scottish independence and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP.
Interestingly Mr Lamont did not stop there, he further went on to use his opportunity on the floor of the House to criticise the best-performing NHS in the UK – that will be Scotland’s NHS, which is devolved to the Holyrood Parliament. No if’s no but’s, just the facts Mr Lamont!
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
I ADMIT to a certain frustration about how to answer certain Unionist MPs when they make blatantly outrageous statements about Scotland. Any rejoinder seems somehow lame and overly self-defensive and you feel it elicits a sneaky smirk from the speaker.
I think now though I have it: they are too stupid to know the difference between a county and a country. They are too stupid to know the difference between an encouraging remark from a leader to Scots to get out to vote, and a promise to desist from any further complaint. It makes me feel better, I have to admit.
Victor Moncrieff
Lanark
BELOW is a copy of my email to the BBC regarding the words “the nation and the country”. Don’t hold out much hope for anything ...
I note that Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, when interviewed on Radio Scotland, mentioned the words “the nation and the country” three times. Now as we all know, Great Britain is a Union of three countries and a province, therefore why was he not asked “which country or nation are you referring to: England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?” It also happens regularly thoughout the BBC, without any corrective question from the interviewer or news anchor. And you wonder why the question of BBC Unionist bias is regularly raised?
Yours in anticipation of fair campaign coverage, but sadly without much hope.
Steve Brooker
North Kessock
AMANDA Baker raises an important point (Letters, October 31). The first part of the Grenfell Tower inquiry having heavily criticised the London Fire Brigade has deflected the spotlight away from the real criminals in this tragic disaster.
I recall a Tory MP and member of the ERG rubbing his hands and stating gleefully that “freedom” from EU regulations would allow us to have “a bonfire of red tape”.Well, it is evident now what will happen when safety is ignored for the sake of profit.
Will the second part of the inquiry recommend charges of corporate manslaughter and criminal charges? I won’t hold my breath.
Terry Keegans
North Ayrshire
IT seems there is one highly relevant question that it not being asked about the fiasco over the Sick Kids’ Hospital. If the construction company has not met the safety standards required by building regulations, why is it still apparently receiving payment?
If this pertains to something in the contract, the concomitant question must be to ask why no heads have rolled amongst the commissioning experts who drew up the contract on behalf of the NHS.
P Davidson
Falkirk
HOW fitting that Friday 13th will dictates the fate of the Tories as it did the Knights Templar, who, it should be remembered, had grown from protectors of pilgrims to a society driven by the accumulation of great wealth and power.
This could be a very lucky Friday 13th for Scotland!
Piers Doughty-Brown
Glasgow
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here