Frankly, Nicola, I think we can all guess what your book won't tell us

The Herald Scotland

2 days ago

Ms Sturgeon's government's failure to move the dial on poverty or the education attainment gap, while presiding over the worst drugs deaths in Europe are scarcely the material for a memoir to be proud of, so they won't appear. In a book of 480 pages – reduced on Amazon from £28 to £21.35 – there is clearly going to be a lot of fluff.
Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh.
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Recognition is premature
Prime Minister Starmer has announced that the UK will recognise the state of Palestine in September unless Israel complies with certain conditions, which it is unlikely to do ("UK will recognise state of [[Palestine]]", [[The Herald]], July 30). Although he didn't go into detail, I believe the area to which he refers is that known currently as the Gaza Strip which is governed by Hamas. We and others identify Hamas as a terrorist organisation, and unfortunately but inevitably it will take succour from this recognition should it ever happen.
But how can recognition happen in any meaningful and legitimate way? At present there is no such state as Palestine, so how does Prime Minister Starmer propose the UK recognises something that doesn't exist? Is he not in effect putting the cart before the horse and just virtue-signalling in the hope of pacifying his back-benchers?
Alan Fitzpatrick, Dunlop.
Starmer move is welcome
I'm delighted by Sir Keir Starmer's belated decision to recognise a Palestinian state, even if he has hedged it about with lawyerly provisos.
Some say that recognition is symbolic, with no practical effect. I disagree. It recognises that there is such a thing as the Palestinian people: people, contrary to what Israel's cabinet and military see them as. How ironic that Israel, of all nations, should treat fellow human beings so cruelly.
Let's hope thousands of truckloads of aid flow into Gaza this week. Otherwise, many children won't live till September.
Doug Maughan, Dunblane.
Authors need sponsors
"Virtue signalling' is a truly awful tagline along with 'greenwashing' and both appeared in Brian Ferguson's exclusive about book festivals ("Author McDermid accuses writers of 'virtue signalling' over Baillie Gifford", The Herald, July 30). We are told that one of the sponsors of a book festival was basically blackballed by Greta Thunberg, then others jumped on the bandwagon.
I love books and I'm very grateful for authors and their ability to write a book, be it fiction or fact. It's an amazing talent but in order to make a living the books need to be sold. In turn sponsorships are a major benefit in creating awareness of authors, books and book festivals.
Here's a wee suggestion. If you don't agree with the sponsorship then don't go to the festival. Exercise your right to chose and leave the rest of us alone. Even Greta has enjoyed help from sponsors, but I suppose that's ok.
John Gilligan, Ayr.
Comfort viewing for Trump
If Donald Trump had need for some comfort viewing alone in his room and missing Melania on the Menie Estate on Tuesday night he was in luck, as Film 4 screened White House Down (2013).
IMDb tells us: "While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the President from a heavily-armed group of dangerous terrorists."
The comments say: "White House Down is a mindless, unbelievable action movie that's only worth a watch if that's exactly what you're looking for" and "way too stupid and overlong. A bunch of terrorists attack and (way too easily) occupy the White House. Cale (Channing
Tatum) is there with his 11-year-old daughter Emily (Joey King). Through circumstances Cale saves President Sawyer (Jamie Foxx) from being killed and they try to figure a way to beat the terrorists and save the White House."
Comfort viewing indeed for the President bolstering his ego and in 2013 the film was a prophecy for his followers.
Peter Wright, West Kilbride.
A scene from the 2013 movie White House Down PA Photo/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (Image: PA Photo/Sony UK)
Climate variations
I must assure William Patterson (Letters, July 30) that I have no deeper understanding of the climate than any in the army of climatologists that has appeared since the global warming gravy train departed, and who found that denying the existence of global warming deprived them of funding and excluded them from the club, as it were.
There can be no doubt that it is thankfully getting warmer since my 1940s childhood, due to natural climate variations that have occurred over the centuries. Soon I will be on holiday in the Maldives, that have thankfully not yet been submerged, and I hope it snows this winter while I am away, as it always does.
Malcolm Parkin, Kinross.
Nitten yarn
Eric McDonald's letter (July 28) referring to a 'jiner' reminded me of a story my dad told me back in the 1970s of how a work colleague had travelled down by coach to Wembley stadium for a Scotland game, with a crowd from a social club in Newtongrange. As many Lothian folk know, Newtongrange is often referred to locally as 'Nitten'.
After the match, this individual walked back to the road where the supporter buses were all parked, and being unable to find his club's bus, he asked a local policeman: 'D'ya ken where the bus for Nitten is?'
I recall saying to my dad: 'I doubt if a London copper would have heard of Newtongrange, let alone Nitten."
Brian Watt, Edinburgh.