READERS’ LETTERS: Forget Dominic Cummings, let’s focus on real problems

Sir, – Having witnessed the unprecedented outpouring of faux outrage regarding the recent actions of Dominic Cummings, perhaps now would be a good a time to bring the incident in to perspective and move forward and focus on the real issues facing society today.

Mr Cummings, with his family, travelled 270 miles or so, in order to self isolate for the required 14 days.

During that period, neither Mr Cummings or anyone from his family came into direct physical contact with any other person, which is in accordance with self isolating guidelines.

In contrast, where was the outrage when at the beginning of May, large crowds gathered for the day at Portobello beach, Edinburgh, in clear breach of lockdown and social distancing rules?

How many received a penalty notice or fine?

When a senior British Transport Police officer responsible for the Scottish operation, travelled from his home in Scotland to England, not once but twice, where was the investigation?

Move along, nothing to see here. And for those critics howling for the head of Dominic Cummings, in Scotland in March, 921 elderly patients, some potentially having been infected with the coronavirus, were discharged from hospital into care homes despite not being tested for signs of the virus prior to discharge from hospital.

The result has had a catastrophic impact, not only on the elderly patients but also on those caring, dedicated staff who work there.

And don’t even mention the disgraceful Nike cover-up, with evidence of the total lack of leadership and failings reported in the news.

A question we should all be asking at this time: why have those in positions of responsibility for these disgraceful decisions, which have had a real impact on the spread of the virus, and potentially cost hundreds of deaths, not resigned or been sacked?

One rule for them and one rule for us is the often repeated mantra.

It certainly is alive and well in Scotland.

Vincent Jones.

Arbroath.

Time for clear blue water

Sir, – Not one to ever feel sorry for Conservatives but I have some empathy for the few Scottish ones left.

With the total chaos now happening in England over Cummingsgate British Tories in Scotland must feel the rug has been pulled from under their feet.

It took them a while to condemn Cummings and Johnson but the majority have now done so.

If there was ever a time to put clear blue water between themselves and the Tory regime in England it’s now.

Failure to acknowledge the situation will end any hope of remaining relevant in Scotland.

Of course on a personal level I would not be unduly concerned if they disappeared from Scottish politics with their one and only policy, but I do know there are many in Scotland who are dismayed by the Johnson/Cummings cult and the damage it is doing to their credibility.

Bryan Auchterlonie.

Bluebell Cottage,

Perth.

Please move on from Cummings

Sir, – Please can we cease the endless handwringing and apoplexy over the Dominic Cummings issue.

There are far more important matters affecting our country than this passing media frenzy.

Personally, I do not think that anyone in our society should be hounded out of their employment by media campaigns.

There were no direct consequences of the Cummings family trip to Durham, ie no infection passed on; no deaths directly attributable to Cummings’ contact.

He did not break any criminal law.

Everything else is pure speculation fuelled by political game-playing and personal vengefulness.

As a society, we should be better than this.

It is within the rights of the prime minister to retain Cummings as an adviser.

He has chosen to do so. That should be the end of the story.

Derek Farmer.

Knightsward Farm,

Anstruther.

Putting the children first

Sir, – While nationalists believe and obey all that purveys from the first minister, there are still free thinking people in the UK who, given the choice of whether to save their family from harm or allow it to befall them, would choose the former.

For example, if a couple with children have their home threatened and both succumb to a dangerous virus, should they expect strangers to risk life and limb in that residence, or leave the children in the hands of the local authority to be comforted by strangers as they wait to see if their parents survive?

Alternatively, should they travel to a safe house, where children can be looked after by family, who appreciate their responsibilities and can protect and care while their parents fight the disease?

I believe most parents would put the wellbeing of their children first, which is exactly what the current regulations state.

The question is, should anyone recovering from a dangerous illness, have to be interrogated and give up their income because of a responsible decision taken to save their family?

Alan Bell.

Roods, Kirriemuir.

Remove him from office

Sir, – With reference to the ongoing Dominic Cummings fiasco, it is fairly evident that Matt Hancock and co have been primed by the prime minister on how to respond if questioned on the subject.

The government have dug such a big hole for themselves that there is no turning back.

I feel Mr Cummings took the option to escape to the country in order to remove himself from the grief he was getting from the press from past misdemeanours.

He was fully aware there would be repercussions if he was spotted, hence the reason he travelled up to Durham in the evening.

His cock and bull story of testing his eyesight whilst on a 60-mile round trip to a beauty spot is unbelievable.

The vast majority of people in this country believe his account of events to be without substance and he should be removed from office.

Willie West.

Osprey Drive, Forfar.

Moratorium on new renewables

Sir, – Almost a decade ago people who expressed a critical view of renewable energy warned that one day, when the amount of renewables became excessive, nuclear reactors would be forced to shut down.

In other words, low carbon energy would just replace another form of low carbon energy.

It appears this day has arrived as National Grid has been in talks with EDF to shut down half the output of Sizewell B during the summer, and this would cost the consumer about £50 million in compensation.

Also, on May 22, both the UK and Scottish records were broken on the amount of wind power that needed to be shut down on a single day due to excess production.

Scottish wind farms alone were paid £6.9m compensation.

You could imagine the uproar from climate campaigners if an oil company were paid to not pump oil.

Electricity is the most perishable good made by man; we must use it immediately or lose it.

Storage is only viable for a tiny amount.

There should be a moratorium on further renewable energy development until this ludicrous situation is sorted.

Geoff Moore.

Alness, Highland.

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