Letter: Yes, safeguards will fail

Sir – I wish to reiterate my conviction that safeguards in a Scottish assisted suicide law will fail. Not due to some baseless premonition, as Iain Stuart suggests (Letters, September 4), but rather due to logic – every human system inherently involves error, including healthcare. And because of evidence from Canada, Belgium, the Netherlands, andContinue reading “Letter: Yes, safeguards will fail”

Letter: suicide is always a tragedy

Sir – I’m grateful to Moira Symons for taking the time to reply to my letter on assisted suicide (Show both sides of euthanasia debate, 17 August) and put forward her own views on this complex and emotive issue. I’ll begin my response on a point of agreement. I echo Ms Symons’ call for moreContinue reading “Letter: suicide is always a tragedy”

Fringe censors should trouble all of us

The Edinburgh Fringe is a world-renowned hub of artistic, literary, and theatrical expression. People from various industries appear at it to make a name for themselves, and tens-of-thousands of visitors descend on Edinburgh each year to enjoy its events. The Fringe is something to be proud of. It’s a boon to tourism, and Scotland’s internationalContinue reading “Fringe censors should trouble all of us”

Letter: Euthanasia coverage lacking

Sir – Media coverage of assisted suicide – euphemistically called ‘assisted dying’ – frequently includes no counter comment from the many groups who oppose it and stand to be seriously impacted by it. It’s concerning that an issue as weighty as this should not receive balanced coverage. It is also common to see the mediaContinue reading “Letter: Euthanasia coverage lacking”

Trans activism has infiltrated Scotland’s care system

Care Inspectorate, the body responsible for regulating and inspecting care services across Scotland, has published guidance for children and young people’s services on “the inclusion of transgender including non-binary young people”. It has provoked a strong backlash from groups concerned about the impact of gender identity theory within the caring professions. The document, drafted with controversial groupContinue reading “Trans activism has infiltrated Scotland’s care system”

Universities must uphold basic freedoms

Scotland is renowned as a seat of the Enlightenment and the Protestant Reformation – two seismic historical events that laid the groundwork for modern, liberal democracies and demonstrated the value of individual liberties including free of speech, and free conscience. You probably wouldn’t guess this considering the illiberal goings on in our nation’s capital ofContinue reading “Universities must uphold basic freedoms”

Net benefits of football

On Saturday, Brechin City won the Highland League with a dramatic victory over rivals Buckie Thistle. The Hedgemen – who needed a win at Victoria Park to clinch the silverware and progress to the pyramid playoffs – kept fans waiting a long, long time for what they wanted. Sub Ewan Loudon scored the opener inContinue reading “Net benefits of football”

Ministers must not ignore public on trans issues

By ignoring opposition to “gender ideology” the govt is making the same mistake it did with the hated named person policy On Wednesday, the Scottish government announced that it will be taking the UK government to court over its block on controversial Holyrood legislation designed to liberalise the process for changing legal sex. The GenderContinue reading “Ministers must not ignore public on trans issues”