A DAY seldom goes by when a person who may hold a particular status or office is deemed to have fallen short of the standards expected of the respective office. Inappropriate behaviour, rightly, should be afforded zero tolerance. The attention that the actions of Mark McDonald MSP has attracted is one recent example of this.

Yet another pattern appears to be emerging; that whenever a person falls short of expected standards there is an almost immediate call on the said person to resign or to have their employment terminated. Moreover, even when a person demonstrates genuine regret and remorse, society is reluctant to show a forgiving attitude. Casting first stones is commonplace. Wrongful actions must not be condoned and sanctions should be proportionately applied. Yet zero tolerance is not the same as zero forgiveness. An unhealthy hardening of attitude is manifest when the latter is considered the same as the former.

James Robertson,

19/3 Timber Bush, Edinburgh.