THE inability of the leopard to change its spots is a familiar adage as reliable today as ever it was.

Recent accounts of covert negotiation by the Tories with European ministers to deny Scotland the same post-Brexit trade conditions as those of Northern Ireland are reminiscent inter alia of the secret deal with France to deny Arabs, after the Great War, the nationhood promised in exchange for help in the defeat of Turkey. That disgrace and its consequences live with us yet.

Under the control of Westminster since 1707, and in particular since 1945, the many, many promises made to Scotland, and broken, affecting every part of life north of the Tweed need no identification here. For that, Westminster cannot dodge responsibility. Our country’s factual situation, connived at even now in the 21st century, is the direct result of the neglect and duplicitous conduct of the UK Government.

Research of reasons for our non-contribution to Brexit, of ignoring the terms of the Scotland Act particularly relating to repatriated powers from Brussels, of immigration reserved to London already stated as meriting no special interest by Westminster, of the reduction in parliamentary representation to be effected as determined (without consultation or negotiation or agreement) by the London-appointed Boundary Commission, of orchestrated media denigration of every Scottish effort at improvement, of the intention that no part of post-Brexit global relations are to be interfered with by Scotland or by its needs, of business and personal taxation weighted heavily in favour of the Treasury, are stark examples of Westminster’s intentions to deny Scots any influence in determining their own future. All that and more is indisputable, but it will in due course be spun and camouflaged into irrelevance by the London establishment.

Acting with the mind-set of medieval Plantagenet England, it is recognisable that Scotland is not to be permitted by the establishment to improve its circumstances and Westminster is working to that end, and is determined that management of its future by Scots themselves is not to be countenanced. Every action by London since 2014 proves that assertion.

We now have the MP for Islington North (for that is all he is) “allowing” consideration of Scottishness if he becomes UK PM. His pompous arrogance is as emetic as his hypocrisy, seeking only to salvage some votes from his departed followers. He must believe his ex-Labour supporters here are stupid! Simultaneously Mrs May’s chief anti-Scot in Holyrood wants not to be UK PM but “only” Scottish FM. Recalling David Cameron’s U-turn on the EU in 2016, and Mrs May’s similar behaviour in 2017, Davidson’s volte-face on P1 school assessments might suggest she could change her stance on that also, and inflict herself on a duped English public. She could be well advised to take her own advice and “shut up” but it is hoped she will not.

Every person irrespective of origin who wishes to live and prosper here must wake up to the fact that Westminster does not want Scotland, a welcoming country rich in resources, in ambition, in culture and in ability, to succeed. To do so as an independent state is nothing short of anathema to the Knights and belted Earls. Scandalously that is true also of its opportunist representatives at Holyrood, who have made little or no contribution to the country’s well-being. Only those wishing our country to prosper by running its own affairs untrammelled by the here today, gone tomorrow, London-based self-seekers can achieve that wish and, make no mistake, the time will come for that opportunity to be taken. All who wish for it must vote for it – and abstain if they “don’t care”!

Currently the plan for a Brexit to bring the Tory definition of a glorious future for “the whole of the UK” is in serious disarray, as are the two major parties in Parliament. Scotland can well do without either!
J Hamilton
Bearsden