Shame on Rishi Sunak for his attack on the homeless

Such a sight in our city streets is an embarrassment which Mr Sunak is desperate to hide from view as it exposes the depths to which our public services have been reduced, a grim reminder of the Westminster Government's failure in office.

If the report about this new project is to be believed, then prosecution of those hapless and homeless citizens will be enforced on the grounds that they are an eyesore and create odious odours to offend the passing public.

Homelessness is not a lifestyle choice as Suella Braverman, when she was in her pomp, commented. Those people have fallen on hard times through joblessness, mental illness, marital breakdown or drug addiction. They are more to be pitied than to be harassed by the enforcers of our laws.

Vagrancy was a crime in the days of good old Queen Bess. Mr Sunak, in his scramble to grab publicity to ingratiate himself with those whose votes he dearly needs, is more than willing to turn the clock back by espousing such a heartless measure.

Shame on you, sir, for stooping so low in your desire to cling on to the keys of Number 10.

Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.

It's the rich who cause inflation

I NOTE your report on the national living wage ("National living wage rise could mean stickier inflation for UK, economists warn", The Herald April 2). One reason for high inflation is the number of people receiving salaries of over £100,000 per annum. It's the high earners who have been driving up the level of inflation over the past years, not the vast majority of the population on low and modest incomes.

Jim Mackenzie, Edinburgh.

Chicken ban may not work

I FULLY support the idea of a ban on keeping chickens in cages ("New ban on chickens in cages", The Herald, April 3). Reportedly, the Scottish Government preference would be to implement such a ban from 2034. However my fear is that production would simply move to countries like India which don't have a ban, where production costs would be lower.

Geoff Moore, Alness.

READ MORE: They should use Glen Sannox on conventional fuel during the summer

READ MORE: My electric car has had a serious effect on my mental health

READ MORE: Extend assisted dying bill to include non-terminal suffering

Survey light on numbers

I NOTE your front page lead story today ("Calorie labelling on menus ‘will cause eating disorders’", The Herald, April 3). I am unconvinced by any survey comprising of only 18 interviews.

Allan McDougall, Neilston.

Recycling is crucial

I WAS interested in the letter (April 1) from James Quinn in which he criticises all the faults (as he sees it) of the SNP administration. One of the supposed failures is the Deposit Return Scheme. Compare the correspondence from Mr Quinn with the letter from Dr Jim Williamson (same day), who realises that if the citizens of the planet insist on putting waste into landfill, we are all up the proverbial creek without a paddle.

It's why we in Scotland have forest fires, floods, dried-out peat bogs, destruction of trees. All of this damage to the ecosystem is what is destroying our environment, and still some people refuse to understand that we should be protecting our planet.

Margaret Forbes, Kilmacolm.

Fuel for thought

MAY I be please be permitted to clear up an issue here once and for all? The alternative fuel source for the Glen Sannox is LNG (Liquified Natural Gas) not LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) as so many correspondents seem to think.

Call me pedantic, as my wife does, but there is a huge difference between the two, not least the fact that LPG is readily available throughout Scotland (as anyone with this fuel source for their heating/cooking will attest), whereas LNG would have to be sent up from England in tankers, probably fuelled by diesel, due to the total lack of production or storage facilities for LNG anywhere in Scotland.

Alan Templeton, Maybole.

A protest against keeping chickens in cages (Image: PA)

Respect for the Bairns

FOR the avoidance of doubt, and against the backdrop of the Scottish Hate Crime Act, I must state this for the avoidance of doubt.

I have supported Dunfermline Athletic for 60 years in a lifetime of utter disappointment. I no longer hate Falkirk Football Club, nor their supporters, and wish them every success in the Scottish Championship on their return next season.

John V Lloyd, Inverkeithing.

Back to work? No thank you

I READ of moves to attract older workers to return to the workplace and also on the other hand that older workers are discriminated against or simply ignored by the young bucks.

I retired from the coalface a few years ago but have kept involved with a few organisations, fearful of becoming invisible and also because I enjoy being "in the world”.

I am happy with that balance and would remind my peers who may be contemplating returning to the workplace that the prospect of an eternity ingesting the soul-sapping gruel of corporate life is truly horrific. Endless meetings, ghastly hotels, budget reviews, office politics, technical committees, audit reviews, performance appraisals, terrible IT, wearying travel, egregious management, awaydays, policy forums, marketing initiatives, programme boards, risk sessions, customer complaints: all those and more combining to flush out any joy or meaning you may experience from Monday to Friday (and sometimes Saturdays and Sundays).

On Sunday, because I could and wanted to, I sat in the garden staring at our cherry tree which is just about to bloom despite our having been told 15 years ago that it was dead. This same tree has over the years supported swings for three children (and sometimes an adventurous adult). It has provided shelter from rain during barbecues and on the odd occasion shade from the sun.

I gained more spiritual nourishment from this episode than anything that had occurred in 40 years in corporate life.

Careful what you wish for.

Keith Swinley, Ayr.