Letters Page

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Disenchanted with politicians

SIR, – Isn't it amazing in this day and age that our leaders should be so unable to convince us, the voters, of their credibility.

Tony Blair was the supreme actor and it needed all our intelligence not to be taken over by his empathy. Yet Gordon Brown has never learned to answer a straight question and forever gives vague and unrealistic soundbites such as his recent “listening" mode.

Wendy Alexander, like Mr Brown a supposed brain box, comes over as a rather fey lady playing politics.

As educationalists in the past, we were taught the skills of communication with rigorous training. Surely this is a skill that our leaders should have acquired as a priority, as their responsibilities are vast compared to the rest of us.

That Alex Salmond has much the same ability as Tony Blair has him making rings around other politicians. In a sporting context, it would be an intriguing game except that our futures and those of our children and grandchildren depend on these people.

Linked to our own parochial difficulty with Aberdeen City Council, is it little wonder, then, that so many of us feel total disenchantment with all these politicians and their hangers-on?

Dr F.L.P. Fouin,

147 North Deeside Road,

Milltimber,

Aberdeen.

‘Damaging’ to Labour

SIR, – Scots might not be in agreement on independence, devolution or a referendum, but they can't fail to be unanimous on how damaging to Labour Wendy Alexander's latest outburst is, and how advantageous it could be to Alex Salmond.

Judi Martin,

Alma,

Maryculter,

Aberdeenshire.

Standing down as candidate

SIR, – I read with interest that Matthew Duncan, a former Aberdeen City councillor, stood down as the Westminster Liberal Democrat candidate for Aberdeen South to concentrate on his enhanced role as assistant at the Scottish Parliament to West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MSP Mike Rumbles.

Does Mr Duncan know what Scottish Liberal Democrats don't know? It sounds as if Mr Duncan doesn't see a future in Westminster, after the support of Labour to the idea of a referendum on independence.

However, I can still remember the Press and Journal asking Mr Rumbles why his MSP expenses are always well over any other north-east MSP’s expenses. The answer must be that he is paying Mr Duncan far too much.

Will the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP take a similar view and will he apply to assist his Liberal Democrat colleague at Holyrood with Mr Duncan?

MP Sir Robert Smith might choose the House of Lords instead; a rightful place for a third baronet.

Christian Allard,

24 Fare Park Crescent,

Westhill,

Aberdeenshire.

Local authorities’ ‘state of confusion’

SIR, – Regarding your report headed “Personal circumstances not valid, planners rule” (the Press and Journal May 7), how can Aberdeenshire Council get “consistency” in planning decisions?

Six different area committees, six different planning departments, all seeking more autonomy.

Supposedly, local-government reform, which cost taxpayers millions of pounds, was going to be “unitary”.

Also, from the viewpoint of financial economics, it was to bring savings with economies of scale.

Instead, we have suffered ever-rising council tax, a worsening of services, such as planning, and a state of confusion.

Surely local authorities can do better and deliver first-class services at a price the ordinary household can afford?

Starting with planning, it must be possible to get the right hand knowing what the left is doing.

Ellis Thorpe,

Albany,

Old Chapel Walk,

Inverurie.

Moving freight by rail

SIR, – I was delighted to read (the Press and Journal, May 2) that Tesco was considering moving some freight by rail.

Safeway, of course, used to move containers to Inverness and Georgemas by rail.

In view of this and the limited capacity of Highland lines, might it not be prudent to double more of the lines between Inverness and Perth, Aberdeen and Tain, and switch a substantial amount of freight off the A9 and A96, relieving the pressure on these roads at a fraction of the cost of dualling the roads?

Eventually, electrification using sustainable sources would ease the impending fuel crisis, especially if electric delivery vehicles were used from the railheads.

J.D. Stewart Campbell,

60 Obsdale Park,

Alness.

Turning image around

SIR, – Further to your story (the Press and Journal, May 2) in which it was reported that Councillor Martin Ford had recruited a PR firm to “turn his image around”, some, including me, might say “mission impossible”.

May we have an absolute assurance that, in doing so, no cost whatsoever will be incurred by taxpayers, now or in the future?

Joe Morrans,

18 Rannes Street,

Insch.