Let’s hope history repeats itself after this crisis

When elected in 1945, the Labour government rushed to establish the NHS and welfare state. And recognising women’s role in the war effort, their voice and rights rapidly improved. The privileged upper classes who fared better during the war were undermined, and people sought a fairer society and chose a Labour government to lead them.

In 1941 Roosevelt and Churchill got together and talked of a new world order once the war was over, based on collective cooperation between countries, self-determination and free trade. India became more assertive and developed a strong independence movement which resulted in Britain quickly relinquishing India (1947).

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Now fast forward to today. Hopefully once the dust has settled, the current suffering and sacrifices are over (unless you’re Dominic Cummings or the like) and the pandemic debacle is over, a similar course of action will prevail.

In the wake of a disastrous Tory government, a Labour party (if they get their act together) may well take over south of the Border. But that’s a big “if”. North of the Border the prowess of Nicola and Holyrood compared to that of Boris’s (nay, Dominic’s) Westminster is clear to all. So I’m hoping history will repeat itself.

Britain’s imperial and right-wing (almost fascist) government will take a hit. A more democratic, socialist, caring government will prevail. The NHS will be re-established. The private sector’s hold on care homes will be rectified. England will stop its imperial hold on Scotland, allowing its democratic right to emerge as an independent, self-determining country but cooperating with other countries (a return to the EU), free trade but most of all a fairer society, similar to Britain in the wake of World War Two.

Here’s hoping, fingers crossed ... wouldn’t it be great?

Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus

MICHAEL Fry (May 26) states that Scotland should be proud of its Rich List billionaires and millionaires named in the recently published Sunday Times Rich List for 2020. Really? Help me with this, Michael.

There was as part of this survey a list of the top 25 givers to charities published under the logo of the Charities Aid Foundation. I noted that 24 of the 25 top givers donated to beneficiaries in sectors you would expect, eg the community, children, poverty, homelessness, art and education etc.

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However, 16th on this list is the Marquess of Bute. From a wealth of £158 million he donated £7.8m to a single beneficiary. The charity he supports is called Mount Stuart and Bute Estates! On their website it states the charity was set up by the Bute family in order to preserve the house, garden and estate as an integral unit.

Much is written about the new normal and the values we all need to embrace in the post-pandemic world. I will be proud of the Scots who follow the dictionary definition of charity – “the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need” – rather than the ideals behind the proverb “charity begins at home”. Will you, Michael?

David Coll
Rothesay

I’VE just heard the founder of the Eden Project being interviewed on Radio Scotland about bringing this enterprise to Dundee. He was talking about ripping up tarmac because motor vehicles will no longer be needed in future.

I remember a visit to the Eden Project in Cornwall in its early years. I found it to be a hellhole of multiple car parks descending to the futuristic greenhouses. As someone who is physically challenged as to walking far, I was defeated by this. The mix of motor vehicles and long walks to the bottom of the quarry limited accessibility despite a shuttle service.

Of course, I welcome greening our cities. But if it means that the elderly, disabled, people unable to walk far, will be excluded from public spaces, that would be shameful. When I look at the various documents being produced for new traffic regulations, I can see little more than lip service being paid to accessibility.

There has been much said about the negative effects of the lockdown. Imagine how you would feel if the lockdown was permanent for you? That could be the situation for many people with limited mobility in future.

Our Holyrood government and local authorities needs to put access for the less mobile at the centre of their plans for a greener recovery.

Cathie Lloyd
Edinburgh

I FEAR the National Trust for Scotland have made a typo-graphical error on their website – surely they meant “The Trust’s President is an embarrassment for our charity”?

June Stewart
via email