Broadband boosts in Scotland are making up for UK Government failures

Their policy is to “encourage” providers like BT and Vodaphone to invest in telecommunications in anticipation of a return from subscribers. Where this is unlikely, eg in rural areas, they will consider government investment. However, they have no problem with other bodies – eg devolved governments, local authorities, community groups – making the investment. So, where the Scottish Government is funding investment in telecommunications, it is to make up for the failure of the UK Government.

Whenever we hear people complaining about broadband speeds, we should tell them who is actually responsible.

Douglas Morton
Lanark

WHAT a start for the new branch office leader Anas Sarwar. After telling us all about how proud and humble he was to be elected new leader in Scotland, and indeed how it brought his mother to tears, his first main contribution is to get a democratically chosen candidate removed from the election because she was honest and said she favoured a second referendum on independence.

READ MORE: SNP and Labour candidates criticise Scottish Labour decision to drop Hollie Cameron

This from a man who has more baggage than Royal Mail when manoeuvring his way to power through career politics at speed. Despite many defeats he is now at the top of a party that is irrelevant in Scotland and will remain so as long as he is its leader.

As for Hollie Cameron, what a way to treat a young, enthusiastic, honest candidate. Hollie, please understand, when you go into dirty, murky, Unionist parties in Scotland, don’t be honest – it will get you nowhere.

Billy Douglas
Alloa

REGARDING Greg Russell’s piece on MEPs’ immunity being revoked (MEPs’ immunity ruling set a ‘dangerous precedent, March 10). The Spanish Government says “victory for the rule of law”. From what I hear, the “rule of law” in Spain is very selective and completely politically driven.

READ MORE: Catalan MEPs lose immunity after secret European Parliament vote

I would remind readers that many barbaric behaviours in Nazi Germany were within the rule of law, as the laws were constructed and enacted by fascist racist thugs, only slightly removed from the behaviours of the right-wing political parties in present-day Spain. Many decades ago, the rest of Europe turned a blind eye to the rise of fascism in Spain, and we all know how THAT turned out. The EU is in great danger of losing ALL credibility as a democratic organisation, and that comes from a cautious supporter.

Remember, those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Technology may have changed greatly in centuries, but sadly human behaviour has changed very little. I cite mass slaughter, lust for power, greed and selfishness as evidence.

Barry Stewart
Blantyre

IN answer to Alexander Potts regarding the proposed tunnel to Northern Ireland (Letters, February 22). Yes the British and Irish rail gauges are different. But that is no problem. In fact it makes the Belfast area the gateway for (all) Irish freight in context of access by rail to GB and the markets of Europe and Asia. And the rail networks of Europe and Asia are gradually becoming more integrated.

A north channel rail tunnel could lead to the great ports of Belfast and Larne and lead to a purpose-built freight terminal in the Belfast area, where freight can load on to trains for GB and continental Europe. The would be no need to connect to the Irish rail network per se. Freight would be trucked to such a freight terminal from the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland for loading onto trains.

Thus Belfast would have an an effective monopoly and the benefits would be in the UK logistics sector with particular reference to the Belfast area.

Alexander is right to mention the Channel Tunnel. A tremendous green benefit of the north channel rail tunnel is that lorries can join trains at Belfast and be “piggy backed” by train and then dropped off in Calais area after clearing the Channel Tunnel. This would represent a major transfer of freight from road to rail.

Finally, the increase in jobs in the UK logistics sector and benefits of hub arrangements between Belfast and Glasgow/Edinburgh would open many new opportunities through a “Scottish HS3”. The upshot would be a more cohesive United Kingdom and less “over-heating” in south-east England.

John Barstow
Pulborough, West Sussex

THE photograph you printed in Tuesday’s paper of a poster inscribed “Still Yes” led me to think that there would be an opportunity for a Scots translation of it, which would read “Aye Aye”.

Kenneth Fraser
via email