THE Paris deputy mayor in charge of economic development, Jean-Louis Missika, has been quoted in the mainstream media as likening Brexit to a “slow earthquake”. The effects are gathering pace, not just on the continent – with firms moving and the associated exodus of people – but also the now visible turmoil here in the UK body politic and in its institutions and “British” parties.
Turmoil in the Tory Party and press, the Daily Telegraph naming and shaming Tory “rebels” against Brexit. Clapping, I thought that was forbidden. Tory rebels in the Commons have been supporting one another, obviously learning from the SNP on how to give support. Labour, equally divided over Brexit, is below the radar at present, but aims to ensure its supporters in the north (of England) get a Brexit they voted for.
Theresa May’s accusations of Russian interference in the Brexit campaign is an attempt to draw attention away from her party’s malaise! Now that is a surprise! Foreign interference in a UK referendum! Not cricket! Did David Cameron not hope to call on Putin to help thwart indyref1? In fact, there was a whole raft of “foreign” support called on by the Better Together group to influence opinion here! Even the EU was co-opted and became Cameron’s little helper.
How ironic now. The UK at Westminster is now agin the EU and turmoil reigns here. Westminster is turning in on itself. The inability of Her Majesty’s Government at Number 10 to match the skills and professionalism of the EU negotiating team has revealed the hollowness of the boast about “punching above our weight”. With their rituals, pomp and flummery, the UK Parliament and monarchy must be the last remaining relic of Ruritania. The age of deference, which was supposed to have ended in the UK with the Keeler revelations in the 1960s, has now moved a stage further with the reaction to the “elites”, including the monarch and heir to the throne, and their use of tax havens.
What one could postulate is that there is also a “slow earthquake” visible across and within the old certainties encompassing Nato, the EU and what is misleadingly termed “ the West”. In the US, moves are afoot to pass legislation following the election of Donald Trump to restrict a president’s right to unleash a first nuclear strike. Political, economic and social earthquakes unleash forces and leave destruction, but can often lead to change and renewal.
Perceptions also change. Contradictions between perceived state of affairs and actual reality surface. Above all, ironies abound.
John Edgar
Stewarton
THE “few” Labour refer to are not the rich, but the devolved nations. Labour confirmed their current slogan “for the many not the few” is not for the few by repeating their well-rehearsed tacit of sitting on their hands while the Tories excised all needs for the devolved nations to consent to the Brexit withdrawal, thus allowing May to trample on Scotland’s stated wish to remain within the EU. No matter the land of milk and honey the likes of Anas Sarwar and Richard Leonard have promised during their leadership rammy. All bar four Labour MPs repeated the tactic of sitting on their hands during the division.
The contemporary “parcel of rogues” the DUP earned their promised gold, despite as yet not seeing a penny, by naively trusting Tories to deliver on a promise. Surprised? Not for the folk of Scotland, who know Labour has a rap sheet for such treachery.
Back in 2015 Labours’ abstentions on the Tories’ further welfare cuts ensured the continuation of austerity. Last night’s division simply exposes Labour as a party of repeat offenders with no appetite for rehabilitation – despite duplicitous sound bites the likes of which Bernard Madoff would envy. There’s little wonder May burned rubber in U-turning about meeting with Nicola Sturgeon (Sturgeon: We still have an indyref2 mandate, The National, November 15). The divisions outcome was clearly predictable.
I suspect May is learning that the people of Scotland do not take well to eroded rights. Moreover, she must realise her crumbling party’s tenure is doomed, with this latest assault against Scotland guaranteeing an enhanced call for independence, hence the more “cordial” exchange reported by Nicola.
May’s well aware the dam she’s erected against Scotland’s independence is breached (if ever complete), and she’s fast running out of thumbs to plug it with. Last night’s division is simply widening the breach. Time will tell what goodies were promised to Nicola, however May should be mindful we were stitched up by her predecessors’ vow. Fool us once?
Piers Doughty-Brown
Glasgow
TOMMY Sheppard is correct to say a hard Brexit will force us to decide if we want to go down in the good ship Brexit or take our future into our own hands (Sheppard: We’ve got a mandate for indyref2, The National, November 14). Of course, if the politicians of both major parties at Westminster had any sense, and wanted to hold on to the Union for a little while longer while getting themselves off the hook, they could let the people have a second referendum on the so-called “final terms” of Brexit. They could also try to insist on a third choice option in any future Scottish referendum, offering more devo max. We must not let them do that.
I was sad but understood why we lost in 2014. I will be sadder if we leave the EU. Brexit is a disaster and I do not want Scotland to get its independence at the cost of the rest of UK leaving the EU.
Tony Martin
Gullane
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