No authority on authoritarianism

IT was with more than a little incredulity I read the contribution on Saturday of your columnist Struan Stevenson (“Nothing thrives in pandemic times like nationalist authoritarianism”, The

Herald, December 12). He set out to make some sort of general attack on the wider Yes movement together with the Scottish Government as being committed to authoritarianism. Like a Trump lawyer alleging election fraud, he felt it unnecessary to offer any evidence but was content to make spurious allegations which were rather counter to the basis of his argument.

The list of Government policies which he listed have either been rescinded or amended or are in the process of amendment. Hardly the work of a government hell bent on authoritarianism. Indeed his prime examples seem to show that parliament has a huge input on legislation. He then unashamedly chose to link the Government with distressing anti-english stances taken by a few people. He did this knowing full well that the First Minister, backed by the Government, publicly expressed her contempt of such actions.

Unperturbed, he then highlighted that some people chose to boycott certain

companies and their products. He forgot to mention that the companies in question have publicly made statements associating themselves with the cause of unionism. That is their commercial decision. They no doubt hope that their stance will attract more custom than it will deter. However, if people make the decision to boycott those products that again is a personal decision but is not supported by either the Government or the SNP.

I suggest if Mr Stevenson is looking for an authoritarian government then an examination of his friends in the Westminster Cabinet would not stand up to a great deal of scrutiny.

George Kay, Burntisland.