The air of gloom and despondency that currently surrounds Prime Minister Gordon Brown's public pronouncements and television appearances need not be permanent.
As Hamish Macdonnell points out (Opinion, 13 May), he has shown a lack of leadership recently. But leadership is about more than simply guidance and direction. It is about the ability to inspire others to achieve objectives; it is about ambition, foc
us and vision.
If he is to prevent his party's poll ratings going into freefall, he needs to use his talents to project a series of proposals: a clear and focused package to help those affected by the abolition of the 10p income tax rate; the introduction of effective price control where practical, including a freeze on fuel tax for three years; a workable deal on personal care for the elderly in England backed by a specific timescale; and the creation of an elected House of Lords to help restore public trust after the "cash for honours" debacle.
He needs to show some vision, some new ideas on the constitution without waiting for the Calman report. He needs to restate his own reputation for competence in economic management and compassion in coping with world poverty.
It is acutely ironic that only last autumn there were signs that the public was prepared to give a Brown government a strong mandate. That was due to a demonstration of good management in response to floods and terrorist attacks, and to genuine goodwill that a new prime minister could be a catalyst for change. That goodwill could return if he can regain the right degree of focus and determination.
BOB TAYLOR
Shiel Court
Glenrothes, FifeIt is astonishing that your sophisticated political correspondents believe calling for a referendum implies support for independence.
Indeed, it is quite the reverse at present. That is why Alex Salmond fears the prospect and rebuffs Wendy Alexander's call.
All the polls show that when the question is properly phrased only a small minority opt for separating Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom.
The tactic of challenging Mr Salmond to introduce the legislation needed for a referendum, and demonstrating his fear of doing so, is bold and clever. In the current spirit of contrition, and from my detached perspective, I would agree that the timing and consultation might have been improved.
Meanwhile the work of the Calman Commission, in parallel with consideration of a referendum bill, will make the option of a devolved parliament within the UK an even more attractive option.
But surely it is time, more than a year after the Scottish election, that the media in Scotland started to examine the manifest failings of the SNP administration instead of continuing their obsession with perceived differences within the Labour Party.
GEORGE FOULKES
Leamington Terrace
EdinburghDo I detect a sub-plot here? Has Wendy Alexander, leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament, woken up to the fact that the only way she can hope to become prime minister of an independent state is by supporting a referendum? In which case Alex Salmond would have been right to wonder which side she would campaign for.
Who knows – Ms Alexander might even become president of the socialist republic of Scotland some day. Now there's a thought.
KEITH HALLEY
Newbattle Abbey Crescent
Dalkeith, MidlothianThe full article contains 562 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
