YOUR VIEWS: ‘Four nations’ is not the right terminology
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Readers' takes on coverage of the Queen's death and the NHS Highland decision to scale back work on the day of her funeral.
‘Four nations’ is not the right terminology
The BBC’s coverage of the death of Her Majesty the Queen has been measured, informative and very well-judged in tone.
Only the endless references to “the four nations” have detracted from its overall excellence.
The Queen’s principal public role was as head of state of one nation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, whose people are referred to as Britons or British.
When Scottish people were asked in a referendum, we chose to remain part of the British nation.
Most British people are quite capable of simultaneously holding British and other identities, whether these relate to a constituent part of the UK or to a country or culture from whence their ancestors came.
If despite this, the BBC is still convinced that there are four nations rather than one, then perhaps it is time for it to be renamed the Four Nations’ Broadcasting Corporation.
Otto Inglis
Crossgates
NHS wrong to scale back for the Queen’s funeral?
While schools and other council services, leisure services run by High Life Highland and many shops and hospitality venues were closed for the day yesterday as part of the Bank Holiday arrangements to mark the Queen’s funeral, allowing staff to be part of the historic occasion if they wished, many readers were not sympathetic to the news that NHS Highland was also among those scaling back operations on the day.
“Yes the world has gone mad. Ridiculous. Please don’t die on the 19th, we are closed.”
– Caraline Urquhart
“What will they accomplish by this apart from saving money? Bank holidays = more £ for staff, well deserved, yes, but draining to the NHS. Yes these are very, very sad times but sending out cancellation letters first class (appointments are 2nd class) is more cost effective I guess. When will the suffering stop...”
– Sallyan Harris
“I have seen it all now! A hospital is NOT a shop! We already have very lengthy waiting lists, people in pain, dying from a late cancer diagnosis etc etc. The world has gone mad!” – Elizabeth Mary Clement Boyall
“Madness.” – Olly Macdonald
“Why? The health of the public is far more impoprtant no?” – Natalie Grimes
“Disgusting joke!!!!” – Paul Gosling
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