Letters: Continuity Bill is more than a ‘failed SNP tactic’

Put simply, it mutates the binary Leave/Remain vote into the complex issues that affect all our daily lives, and that can be subsequently voted upon both by the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland.

So, Remain, now becomes a Scottish Parliament-based fisheries policy, possibly instigating new licensing schemes for fishing boats, and possibly reducing the major corporate ownership of quotas within the Scottish fleet, and possibly instigates a Scotland-based agricultural and environmental policy that enhances standards of food produced in Scotland, and what goes into producing such high-quality food, etc, etc.

So, Leave, now becomes a UK Government-based fisheries policy, leaving much unchanged, including the overemphasis on corporate control of the fish quotas, and becomes the process by which imported cheaper food, is allowed including food produced to lower standards, and inclusive of more chemicals, etc, etc.

If the question of leaving the EU was to be asked of the Scottish voters again, then the Continuity Bill (Scotland) would be the Yes or No question. If it’s a Yes, then these outcomes would likely be produced within the EU, if it’s a No then we start proper and sustainable negotiations to leave the EU, based upon having accepted the move to lower and divergent standards.

Whatever decision the supreme court makes, what the Continuity Bill (Scotland) sets out is the future core of what Scotland is all about, and interestingly moves matters on beyond the simple but important Yes/No question of self-determination, which appears to upset those who seek a pure independence nirvana not rooted in the reality of todays “warts and all” interdependent world.

So, the question is, if no section 30 is made available for an early vote on self-determination, should there be a Scottish referendum vote on the Continuity Bill (Scotland)?

Stephen Tingle

Greater Glasgow

THE ongoing Brexit debacle so far has produced some outbursts of ludicrous delusional attacks from the Tory press and UK ministers from the PM downwards on the EU.

The Telegraph has had several articles with headlines which read: “EU rejection of our final offer exposes [EU] arrogance at its core” and adds in an other: “EU taking a huge gamble that we [UK government] will surrender if it keeps pushing”. And the newly-appointed Brexit minister Dominic Raab threatens to refuse to pay any agreed Brexit bill if the EU fails to agree a trade deal.

As Westminster ministers are now boldly going to bypass the EU Commission by talking directly to individual EU heads of state in an attempt to divide and conquer, one must wonder if No.10 really understands how the EU functions after 40 years of membership.

Theresa May still thinks the Chequers deal, already altered since its inception, will benefit ordinary EU members! This absurd mixter maxter of threats and patronising statements on how we the UK know what is good for the EU, now that we are leaving, betrays a mindset which will only firm the resolve of the EU to stand by its four freedoms and modus operandi. The Westminster mindset forgets that the 27 through the Council of Ministers and the EU Parliament have authorised the Commission to be the executive in all Brexit negotiations and to report back on the red lines the 27 have stated.

As a member the UK had shared control and input into EU matters. It left to take back control of its own affairs. Being out means out. One cannot expect the EU to take a benign view of the UK Government at this juncture issuing threats and apportioning blame to the EU when it does not agree what the former member demands.

The Telegraph sadly uses the words of “no surrender!” By leaving the EU the UK has abandoned its opt-outs and privileges it once had as members. It cannot expect to be given privileges from without! By leaving it has already given up!

John Edgar

Kilmaurs

I AM writing today about Brexit and the behaviour of Johnny Foreigner towards England, I must apologise, keep forgetting we have two Celtic provinces, should have said Britain.

These continental people seem to forget that England (Britain) has a special place on this planet; rules which apply to lesser breeds and aliens cannot possibly apply to us. Do these people not realise we once had an empire on which the sun never set, do they not remember that we won the war?

It is quite intolerable that any right-thinking Englishman (Briton) should he to pay any attention to the views or wishes of people across the Channel, people of which we know little and wish to know less. Our country is inundated with aliens taking over the jobs which we prefer not to do and what is worse, they are doing them well.

In Scotlandshire I understand, the Jocks are moaning about a lack of fruit-pickers due to our wonderful policies of keeping immigrants out. The rotting fruit will make a wonderful mulch for next year’s crop, there is always a bright side to these things.

More moaning from these Jocks because without immigration they have difficulty in manning their health service. These Jocks must be made to realise that if they had a better diet they would need fewer health workers.

Lest any should take my lampoon as a racist attack on the English, it is not. It is an attack on the lunatics currently running the asylum and those who represent them in a chat shop on the bank of the Thames. I know full well that most English are not the mindless xenophobes and chauvinists I am mocking.

R Mill Irving

Gifford East Lothian