MAIL IN PRINT . . . AND ONLINE

Alexander faces a tough challenge

IT is perhaps appropriate that Wendy Alexander should become the new Scottish Labour leader in the same week as the SNP government reached its much-proclaimed first 100 days in office.

While both events will set the tone for the next four years of political debate, I suspect Alexander will have the harder task as the events of May 3 left us with two important "once in a generation" changes in Scottish life.

Firstly, Labour's stranglehold on the oversized local government sector was wiped out overnight and with it, in time, will go the dependency mentality whereby everyone wants to work for their local council and feels obliged to vote Labour.

Secondly, it may have taken 70-odd years, but the SNP finally won an election. It may have been almost too close to call, there may be disappointments and shocks ahead, but having won one election, the SNP can at some point in the future win another, possibly in 2011.

We really are now living in a different country to the one we inhabited before May 3 and, in my view, the past 100 days or so suggest we will be all the better for it.

Pete Ellis Coupar, Angus

DURING my brief period as a Labour party member, I recall receiving correspondence from an organisation calling itself The Campaign For Labour Party Democracy.

If such a group still exists it must be a very busy one, as last week saw Wendy Alexander become their fourth Holyrood leader in eight years to be "elected" without a single vote being cast.

Donald Dewar was anointed, Henry McLeish emerged (and shortly afterwards submerged again), Jack McConnell was unveiled and now Ms Alexander takes her turn as none of her rivals could agree on a candidate to stand against her.

Ordinary Labour Party members have, therefore, been denied a say in the selection of their Holyrood leader four successive times. It is little wonder that Labourite numbers appear to be in terminal decline, while the fiercely democratic SNP with its quarterly national councils and conferences, which every member can attend, is attracting new converts on a daily basis.

No political party can exist in a power vacuum. Wendy Alexander may be the new voice of Labour in Scotland, but is anybody listening any more?

Gavin Fleming Edinburgh

No need for UN role

THE Scottish Executive does not need observer status at the United Nations in order to gain international recognition (Opinion and Debate, August 19).

Through contacts with Unesco and Scottish involvement in the UK Unesco committee it can liaise on the management of important World Heritage sites, such as St Kilda, New Lanark and Edinburgh's old and new towns.

Most importantly, it has the right to be involved in United Kingdom delegations on global warming and the environment.

By being part of a strong team it can not only influence debate on key issues such as sustainability but can also find new ways of enabling Scottish civic and public society to contribute to finding real solutions to reduce CO 2emissions.

Surely strengthening the place of Scotland in this team should be a priority, and not time wasting applications for observer status that may be vetoed.

Kevin Hutchens Stonehaven

Housing crisis

HOUSING need shouldn't become an argument about robbing Peter to pay Paul. Thus we were sorely disappointed to read the Sunday Herald's article (News, August 19) on homelessness.

We contest that the homelessness policy is fuelling "the housing crisis". It is very clearly the housing crisis that is fuelling homelessness in Argyll, as well as across the country.

It is a lack of good-quality, affordable housing that is causing the housing shortage and putting social housing providers into the position of having to ration between those with competing needs.

Yes, the legal definition of homelessness covers a range of issues, including whether it is reasonable for a person or household to continue to stay in accommodation that they are currently in.

Yes, that means there is no longer a "stereotypical" image of homelessness always meaning sleeping on the streets, but it allows us to ensure we do not hide from the scale of the problem.

We accept that it is becoming increasingly difficult for social landlords to be able to meet housing need in their area, as waiting lists lengthen but the stock of social housing diminishes.

And that is exactly why it is imperative that the Executive commits to increased investment for the building of 30,000 affordable homes for rent over the next three years.

More housing will solve the housing crisis: we must ensure we don't make people who find themselves homeless a scapegoat in the meantime.

Christina Cran Media officer Shelter Scotland

Being British

THE Sunday Herald's feature canvassing opinions from a cross- section of the public on Alex Salmond's National Conversation (News, August 19) made interesting reading. The responses provide an insight into the majority view of us Scots - reflecting much of what I believe public opinion to be on the issue of independence.