THE summer political madness has clearly deepened to all-consuming national psychosis with amnesia thrown in.

For those playing the “Jacob Rees-Mogg would be fun for leader” tune, may I just say this.

Is this privileged throwback, who has given the world six more mouths to feed and six more drains on the planet’s resources, the same extremely fortunate Etonian who said that aid to disadvantaged countries should stop (Radio 4, February 1 2013)?

The man who makes Downton Abbey look understated said that aid to the poor, hungry, starving, exploited should be a matter of philanthropy. In other words the rich give a few crumbs from the table if they happen to feel like it.

Those living in countries that have, for centuries, subsidised the living standards of the West, and more specifically the highly privileged like Rees-Mogg, are to be abandoned unless some rich toff finds that their tax status will benefit from a bit of charitable giving.

I can only assume that the Rees-Mogg idea is an attempt to divert us from impending nuclear annihilation – with something worse.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh

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WITH Ruth Davidson being put firmly “back in her box” over immigration by the Prime Minister’s number two, Damian Green, this neatly puts well and truly to bed the claim that the Scottish Conservative leader has some influence within the portals of power in London (Davidson can make suggestions about immigration but ‘nobody is listening’, The National, August 11).

Ms Davidson is right in her call for a debate over the UK Government’s ridiculous target to reduce net migration to less than 100,000. While the number of pensioners in Scotland is expected to rise by 28 per cent over the next 25 years, worker numbers are only increasing by one percent. We therefore face an ageing population, but only marginal growth in the working-age population, yet all that seems to concern the Tories is achieving a bizarre arbitrary migration target that was set in 2010.

In the run-up to the EU referendum senior figures in the Leave campaign, such as Michael Gove, promised increased powers over immigration would come to Scotland, with the introduction of a points-based system, should the UK vote to leave the EU. These pledges, like many others, have been predictably quickly forgotten.

Scotland desperately needs an immigration system that caters to the challenges we as a nation face, and while Ms Davidson may be calling for such a debate, absolutely no-one within her own party is listening.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh

IN September 2015, Ruth Davidson said in a speech she made in Brussels: “To me, the cost/benefit analysis is clear. The advantages we gain from EU membership clearly and categorically outweigh any disadvantages that come with it.”

In today’s article in The National, in his endorsement of Davidson as a contender for May’s job, Jeffrey Archer likens her to Margaret Thatcher and says: “She doesn’t strike me as someone who wavers. She makes opinions and stands by them”.

She certainly is not slow to make opinions, but on the subject of the EU she utterly failed to stand by them and fight to protect Scotland’s interests.

This can only mean that she has shamefully put self-interest first.
Dennis White
Blackwood, Lanark

HERE we go again ... the Scottish Government, responding to criticism about the lack of availability of information under Freedom of Information, decided quite rightly to make much more information available than ever before. In fact, our nation’s government is one of the best for releasing information. One would have thought that the opposition parties would be supportive and agree with their move. Not a chance.

Tavish Scott, that well known LibDem naysayer, is having none of it! Our Tavish thinks the Scottish Government is releasing too much information now, and in his fairytale world he is convinced that this is a cunning ploy by the government. He thinks by releasing so much information reporters can’t find what they want, and good reporting and journalism is going to suffer.

Tavish unfortunately is unable to see the irony in his remarks, as with the exception of The National and its sister paper there is no good journalism within Scottish media anyway, and the other papers don’t let inconvenient facts get in the way of their doom and gloom, negative smear stories of the SNP and the Scottish Government. If they did resort to facts then nearly all of their rubbish would remain unwritten. It is pathetic that nothing the SNP attempt or do accomplish is given any real positive acknowledgement by either the media or the opposition parties.

I’m surprised that the Colonel hasn’t jumped on board this bandwagon. I suspect she is too busy preening herself after getting rave reviews from none other than disgraced crook Jeffrey Archer. If that is the quality of your backers, Ruthie, take my advice ... concentrate on your day job! But whither is Kezia? Have we at last found a subject she passively agrees with the SNP on, or is she out there somewhere sifting through the latest batch of information bundles for something she can bleat endlessly about. I say, well done to the Scottish Government for a bold and innovative move. One day maybe the opposition will grudgingly give you some credit!
Ade Hegney
Helensburgh

WE in Lanark are very fortunate that the town is the location of the start of one of the modern Western world’s best known stories of the fight for freedom and justice over oppression. I of course refer to the story of William Wallace.

On Saturday August 19 there is an event commemorating his endeavour. A march down the High Street to the home of Wallace’s wife in Castlegate will be led by the Stonehouse Pipe Band. The Guardian of Scotland’s Address will be given by Paul Kavanagh – Wee Ginger Dug – and music and poetry will be performed by Bill Beattie, Kevin Bryce and Les Hunter.

Refreshments will be available at the Tollbooth afterwards. The long-range weather forecast is good. The march starts at St Kentigern’s church opposite Braidfute Retail Park at 10am.

I feel that this is a splendid opportunity for a personal demonstration of commitment to justice and honesty so terribly and tragically lacking in our country today. It would be good to receive visitors from outwith the town to join in the event.
Victor Moncrieff
Lanark