Letters: Be aware, London – we won’t wait seven years

The SNP MPs walking out en masse showed solidarity with their constituents. When the SNP does it, it’s some sort of “game”, but when Donald Dewar led 50 Scottish Labour MPs out of the same House of Commons in 1987, because they “believed” that Scotland was not being taken seriously by the UK Government, that was standing up for Scotland. Oh Labour how you have fallen!

I know I am not alone in how I feel, but we cannot act first and think second. That way, we would allow the heat of anger to overrule reality and legality. We cannot ignore that Tuesday and Wednesday showed how the Tory party will continue to hide behind Brexit to remove firstly powers and then our parliament. If there was ever question as to Labour-LibDem loyalty to Scotland before self-promotion and their belief in the chummy HQ club of Westminster, that question has been answered.

A unilateral declaration of independence is not an option, Securing and winning a second indyref is. But what role do you think Westminster would play in securing or denying such an event? To provide Unionists the opportunity to boycott a unilaterally declared referendum would be costly, time-consuming, and have us fighting differing fronts at the same time. Better, then, to ensure that our parliament always has a pro-indy majority. And that the pro-indy parties keep independence as a priority on their political agendas. That way, when we vote, we give our votes for independence to our legitimate parliament, which can then act on its majority. Now is the time to rededicate our time, energy, passion to getting outside any comfort zone, re-establishing our presence on streets, fairs, festival, registration voting events, parades and processions. Westminster may deny us democracy, as they believe their own mantra about “taking back control” and leaving an “undemocratic EU”, but we will be heard. And for as long as we are part of this Union we must send a majority of pro-indy MPs to speak up for Scotland. Never let it be said that we turned our backs on democracy.

Back in his day, Robert Burns reminded us we had been bought and sold for English gold by a parcel of rogues. Not this time, not to bail out, to stay shackled to and keep afloat a drowning rUK post-Brexit. But be aware London, we won’t wait seven years. Your time is up.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

WHILE watching PMQs on Wednesday, I was delighted when Ian Blackford threw a well-timed lob and completely blindsided the Speaker. There can be no doubt John Bercow was rattled, fussing and fuming while his minions below frantically searched Standing Orders for an answer.

In dismissing Blackford from the house he handed the SNP the biggest propaganda coup imaginable and the PM and her baying hordes realised this too late. Ian Blackford exploited this to maximum effect to the world’s press on College Green, while the Scottish Tories desperately played catch-up.

Righteous anger is a heady brew. If only it could be bottled.

Terry Keegans
Beith, North Ayrshire

THERE are times when direct action is required, when action speaks louder than words, and PMQs was evidence of this. Ian Blackford demanded that the devolved parliament in Scotland must receive what would only be expected in a democracy: recognition, respect and to be heard. Try as he might, he was silenced and finally removed from the chambers. But Mr Blackford was not the only one silenced – no Scottish MP was allowed to speak in the debate, they were silenced! Where is democracy, where is Scotland’s voice? Denied a seat at the EU negotiating table, now being denied a voice at Westminster. It was noted that David Mundell MP sat silent, which is strange when you consider his role as Secretary of State for Scotland! Next year is the 20th anniversary of our devolved parliament in Scotland. In its present form, does it have a future?

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

AS ever, Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp puts his finger forensically on the real point of Westminster’s disgraceful behaviour over Brexit (UK Government is starting to dismantle devolution, June 12).

Their “blunders” are not driven by disorganisation or blind stupidity but by a programme aimed at first destroying devolution and ultimately at reducing Scotland to the status of a county of Greater England.

I have personally heard Unionist acquaintances spit out their determination to literally “raze Holyrood to the ground”. To repeat Gordon’s words, this is not scaremongering. This is a real and present danger. So let there be no doubt in anyone’s mind. Scotland is in a war of survival, with its very identity at stake. This is the message our activists must make clear to the Scottish voters.

Peter Craigie
Edinburgh

JUST a wee post from a sad, pedantic and possibly paranoid Yesser. Been around long enough to see Westminster parliamentary shenanigans. I remember Wee Eck being ordered out and many more will come to mind.

“Ordered out by the Speaker” was the preferred description by our lovely BBC then. Today it appears that “thrown out” is the term reserved for SNP miscreants. All across the beeb this is the term. Which term is more appropriate and dignified, I wonder?

Peter Barjonas
Latheronwheel