"EVENTS, dear boy, events."
Harold MacMillan was never so eloquent, albeit some 20-odd years posthumously. One can imagine this once quite statesmanlike Tory looking quietly down on Theresa May and understanding what he really should have said was: “Events, dear girl, events.”
Surely none can buy that Theresa May is talented in the classical sense, “having natural aptitude or outstanding skill”, for she bought her way to the PM’s portfolio by being one of the most callously brutal and jingoistic amongst an uncaring party, as her time at the Home Office shows.
No, what Ms May has been, until now, is lucky, not talented, for the talented would have seen the post-Brexit mess looming. They would have passed on the Conservative leadership, or they would have gone for it (then likely lost but positioned themselves well for later) on the premise that a vote had been taken, but another would be required towards the conclusion of negotiations. That might have kept her imaginary “precious Union” together.
That the incumbent PM did neither demonstrates an utterly unambiguous and arrogant cluelessness about the world in which we live. A fit description of the current crop of UK policymakers, from either of the top two parties.
Before the Brexit mess even started she should have been looking for UK strengths, and at ratios of 27:1 against in the stakes of states arrayed on the field, or almost 8:1 against in market size, she would have understood she was looking at a dud hand while the other side of the table had every ace and face card in the pack. In spite of lady reality biting her several times now, she continues on an outwardly-appearing self-serving, imperialistic, jingoistic path. Talented? No.
The SNP walking out of parliament, with its resulting coverage, was also foreseeable. Regarding those powers May wants that resided in Brussels, there’s a reason for her obstinacy. The Tories need them. The only explanation is that they intend to use them, in fact may already have quietly promised to do so, and did not trust the Scottish Parliament to back the lowering or dismantling of our food/safety/environmental standards. Yes, as an example, your chicken might be 2p a pound cheaper, but salmonella cases should be expected to increase dramatically, costing the NHS, while padding the profits of the drug manufacturers through this needlessly created human misery.
If Ms May had been “talented”, she would have seen this walkout coming, she would have avoided these scenarios. She, her party, they need these future trade agreements, they require something to crow about, to enamour their friends with.
The flip on this coin is that Scots are beginning to understand a little more about Westminster’s treatment of them. More will shake off their Stockholm Syndrome-like attachment to this misbegotten Union as they come to understand that in the EU, which isn’t perfect, we had 27 other nations who literally “had our back” when it came to these standards. On any given day, in any given area, some might care, some might not give a damn, but it only took one to stop a disaster.
In the near future Scots will have a choice, and it’s getting to be exceptionally clear: stick with Westminster, which clearly puts the interest of its troughers first, or go with an EU affiliation of some type where you not only have a voice, but are backed by 27 other nations.
It will make London’s howling look like the schoolyard bully who’s just been thrashed.
A MacGregor
East Kilbride
AFTER the disgraceful performance by the English Government in Westminster accompanied by the supine showing of what is supposed to be the official opposition, it’s time for something new. It is quite apparent that Westminster treats our Scottish representatives with total contempt. The empty chamber when we speak, the braying catcalls.
I wonder if it is time for a more robust, Catalan approach to London. Sending our MPs there seems pointless if they are outnumbered 10 to one. The problem with a Catalan approach here is that the enemy within is large, our fifth columnists are well entrenched, with virtually total media support and the active support of the English Government. The question is, would Scotland’s people stand or would they, as they have done for so many years, cringe? Help ma Boab, whit wad happen tae us? We canna dae onything, whaur’s the siller tae come frae? Lunon aye kens whit’s richt. We have all seen this time and again.
R Mill Irving
Gifford, East Lothian
LIKE many others, I have this week watched in dismay the latest shenanigans at Westminster. This gentlemen’s club masquerading as a legislature would be a source of much mirth if it did not have so much influence on the everyday lives of all of us (I include here our cousins south of the Border, who are as ill-served by it as we are). It is clear the maintenance of Westminster’s own quirky traditions takes precedence over democratic lawmaking. Why, for example, is the practice of filibustering still allowed? It’s all very quaint and picturesque, but no way to run a country in the 21st century!
Elizabeth Knowles
Aberdeenshire
IT was great to read the article in Wednesday’s National about the new work being published by the Stennis Historical Society about the Jacobites and the British Army of occupation post-Culloden (New Jacobite exhibition at Edinburgh Yes Hub rally, June 13).
As a very recent member of this society I have great admiration for the detailed work done by the other members in getting this information transcribed and into the public domain.
It would be helpful if you could show our website address to enable people to view all the findings and research for themselves, including the interactive map showing the location of the hundreds of British Army garrisons in the 10 years following Culloden. The website can be found at: bit.ly/StennisHS
Sheila Boettcher
Musselburgh
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel