GORDON MacIntyre-Kemp hit the nail on the head again yesterday in The National, not once but twice (‘Little Britain’ fishermen didn’t heed our warning, The National, March 22).
First, by emphasising the way our fishing communities have been conned yet again by the British Government. I’m afraid my reaction is one of sorrow rather than anger and an old adage comes to mind: fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
Gordon’s second point is, however, much more important. The quest for an independent Scotland is indeed essentially a question of identity. So campaigners do need to be aware of those voters who are either confused about their national identity or are comfortable with a dual identity. As these groups seem to represent a clear majority of voters, it is vital that they receive a suitably persuasive message from the Yes campaign.
Of course, with the the shambles that the UK Government is currently creating, the choice for voters should be clear. But that choice needs to be presented in a targeted way.
For it is nothing less than all of our futures that are at stake, poor or wealthy. The economic and social stability of Scotland, the very identity of the nation, is now under attack and our only defence is the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government. So a safe pair of hands, yes, by all means. But let us see some imagination and clarity of thought in delivering the message.
Peter Craigie
Edinburgh
THE pathetic sight of a group of tawdry Conservatives on the banks of the Thames on Wednesday planning a stupid and meaningless protest about the sell-out of the fishing industry was a sight to behold. With arch Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg unwilling to board the ship and being aghast at the thought of touching a dead fish, let alone summoning the energy to toss it overboard, without the services of his batman, it was left to underlings such as the rabid Ross Thomson MP to do the deed.
However, just as their sad little wheeze was about to cast off, who should appear but the master of the photo op, one Nigel Farage MEP (allegedly). Not one to shy away from free publicity, Nigel agreed to ignominiously tip the box of fish overboard with the aid of the boat’s crew. What should have been a session of fish throwing with gay abandon turned out like a YouTube video on fly tipping!
One wonders just what goes through the minds of these useless idiots as they plot and scheme their way through Brexit. How any of them can imagine this stunt would gain maximum publicity and embarrass the Maybot is anyone’s guess. Suffice to say that it ended in near farce with all of them, including Rees-Mogg, who remained ashore but looked on in horror as the plan, like the fish they lobbed into the Thames, went belly up.
Which brings us on to how more sensible and astute Members of Parliament confronted Saint Theresa. It was left to our own SNP Drew Hendry to inflict maximum damage on the Maybot. It makes one grateful that there are parts of our wonderful country that didn’t get Tory fever at the last election and who voted for useful, erudite and committed politicians like Hendry, to represent theirs and their country’s interests in the cesspit that is Westminster.
The upshot of the whole deal is that the fishing industry has been sold a patsy by this deceitful and dishonourable Conservative government, and like the rest of us they are now seeing that what they wished for has come to pass, but unfortunately not in the way they had imagined.
Ade Hegney
Helensburgh
HOW many more times can Theresa May allow Boris Johnson to remain as Foreign Secretary? His latest comment – comparing Putin and Russia with Hitler and the Nazis – was another example of his insensitivity and complete inability to think before opening his mouth. It seems he is unaware that more than 20 million Russians died fighting the Nazis. Irrespective of the current issue regarding the poisoning in Salisbury, where the UK has failed to follow international obligations on the inspection of a chemical weapon attack, the comments from Johnson are just the latest in a long line of embarrassments.
Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
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