Readers' Letters: Yousaf should wholeheartedly back attacks on Houthi rebels

Humza Yousaf said the UK parliament should have been recalled to allow a debate on the full repercussions of the the UK and US attacks on Houthi rebels in Yemen (Picture: Robert Perry/Getty Images)

The UK is taking very necessary action in the Middle East to protect international supply lines from terrorist actions. Why is it that our First Minister cannot see the bigger picture here rather than his narrow viewpoint over Gaza?

The obvious enemy in all of this is Iran yet Mr Yousaf keeps suggesting policies that can only help Iranian goals. Recalling parliament prior to military action is neither sensible nor practical, it is naive.

Is this really what we should expect from our First Minister?

Gerald Edwards, Glasgow

Follow UK

The First Minister follows Westminster In banning a dangerous breed of dogs after the entirely predictable flow of XL bully dogs from England to Scotland. Legislation that could have been in place in parallel with England, as Michael Gove suggested last year. Then, the First Minister follows Westminster in addressing the appalling treatment of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses having, like Westminster, done little for years.

As we rely on businesses to create jobs, can the First Minister now follow Westminster and reduce the tax burden on businesses, or will his “dogged” determination prevent him?

Brian Barbour, Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland

Dying to vote?

Murdo Fraser refers in his Perspective article of 10 January to MSPs backing the general principle of Liam McArthur’s assisted dying bill without having scrutinised the detail. Mr Fraser claims this shows the Scottish Parliament is not properly equipped to legislate on a matter as important as choices in end-of-life care, and is acting instead like a “student debating society”.

Undoubtedly, Mr Fraser knows better than most what the process for bringing private members’ bills involves, having gone through it more than once himself. Just a quick scan of parliamentary records shows us that he has lent his support to seven private members’ proposals in Holyrood over the last two years alone without seeing a draft bill. He has also accepted the support of 31 MSPs for his own private member’s bill on fly-tipping without first presenting a draft bill.

Perhaps it is only on issues which challenge his religious faith that Mr Fraser sees the process for bringing private members’ bills as fundamentally flawed?

Fraser Sutherland, CEO, Humanist Society, Scotland, Edinburgh

Speak softly