THE National’s series about King Robert the Bruce certainly stirred the blood and captured perfectly the trials and tribulations of our nation and this wonderful man.
I’m intrigued to learn that the mansion where he spent much of the latter part of his life may have been located at Mains of Cardross near Renton, West Dunbartonshire, and without doubt believe that a proper archaeological excavation should take place I also believe a plaque or similar should be laid at the remains of Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire, to mark the birthplace of our greatest king. I have been to the ruins and although not much remains of the castle, there is a substantial original wall facing the coastline next to the lighthouse. We need to celebrate and remember this “magnificent prince” for future generations and the heritage of Scotland he so bravely fought for.
Iain McEwan
Kilmarnock
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May's arrogance will make BRexit talks even tougher
THERESA May is quoted in The National as saying of the EU “we are leaving, we are coming out” and that it is impossible to keep “bits of membership” (Indyref2 still in sight as May drops heavy hints about hard Brexit and Sturgeon insists ‘I’m not bluffing’, January 9) However, wanting “the best possible deal for us” is still keeping “bits” of membership, so to speak, in the style of have-our-cake-and-eat-it.
The Prime Minister’s pronouncements reported elsewhere, also include claims that the UK’s proposals will be good for the EU as well, and that it would require quite some changes of approach, tone and policy from the EU.
The patronising “good for the EU” and condescending “changes of tone” comments are quite breathtaking. They betray an arrogance and innate sense of entitlement irrespective of the views and policies of, in this case, the other 27 members of the EU.
The ambitious proposals being trumpeted have one weakness – the other EU members have to agree and the final decisions will rest with the EU Parliament.
With May’s remote and haughty condescension and the fact the UK regime will be “attempting” to negotiate from the outside, the EU is indeed not amused and will not be disposed to accede to Number 10’s one-sided demands.
Hard or soft Brexit? The deal will be harder, even well-nigh impossible to secure given the statements, attitudes and tone coming from Number 10.
Since May’s interview on Sky News, in which she appeared to back leaving the single market, the pound has fallen further against the euro and the US dollar. Good indicators already!
Perhaps, Number 10 is aiming to leave UDI-style by invoking Article 50 and moving straight to WTO agreements, which, of course, the UK Government would have to get agreement on as the UK is not yet a signatory to the WTO, whereas the EU and other nations worldwide currently are.
John Edgar
Blackford
ANYONE who thinks Theresa May has no Brexit plan is delusional. You can bet your bottom dollar that May has an army of civil servants beavering away 24/7 and she will say or do anything to stop the media or the public getting a sniff of what they are up too.
On a day of her choosing, she will trigger Article 50 then finally drop her cards on the table. This is how Brexit is going to go down, she will announce and neither Labour, the Liberal Democrats nor the Green Party – and certainly not the SNP – will have any say.
Scotland needs to start planning too. We need a clear roadmap in place and we need it now. It will be too late once the Boris’s Brexit bus has left the terminus.
Walter Hamilton
St Andrews
LOVINA Roe states that “the EU is run by a cabal of bankers and multinational companies in their own self-interest” (EU opposition is based on valid critique, not class, Letters, January 10). I am rather tired of reading this claim.
Try telling this to Poland, Finland, Latvia and the other Baltic states joining the EU to escape domination from Russia.
The support of the EU allowing small counties to band together, giving them the freedom they craved, is based on a socialist idea of people being stronger together. Until the UK joined the EU, British workers had no legal entitlement to any holidays whatsoever. People rather forget this now.
Many employment rights, safe working standards, protection of water quality and many other examples display the socialist principles of the EU, which benefit everyone, not just the rich.
Susan Grant
Tain
LIKE Lovina Roe, I have longed for independence all my days. There is no way I would alter that goal, no matter what stood in the way.
She states her wish is for a true democracy not run by bankers, multinational companies and dictatorial and patronising MPs.
Does she not realise she is living with exactly those evils at present with a Westminster Government?
Independence must come first. Then people can argue about what type of system they want to live under.
Jim Brown
Kennoway
I READ with interest that the Labour Party are proposing some vague idea about a federal system for the regions of the UK, without explaining what these regions would be. Is it the four separate nations? Is it different sections of England (as yet undefined) and the other nations? Does it mean the regionalisation of all the four nations? What powers would these vague federal entities have and what does the overarching UK have power over? How would differences of policy get settled?
What structure would represent the federal nations or regions of the new nation within the UK, and who or what represents the UK power? Are they considering a president, a monarch, the House of Lords?
The cynical logic I see is that Labour realise they will never gain overall power in the UK as it stands but believe they might do so in some of the regions of this federal UK.
Robert Doig
Bo’ness
THANK you to Pauline Taylor for the wonderful one-liner: “Is that true or did you hear it on the BBC?” (Letters, January 10).
How I wish I had said that. But I certainly will now!
Peter Craigie
Edinburgh
ROBERT Anderson (Letters, January 7) says he has converted three No voters to Yes. I would love to hear what his tactics were. I hope to convert two Nos myself but will wait till I have succeeded before spilling the beans.
Andy Pearson
Edinburgh
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