THE Labour Party is so divided and lacking in ideas that it is now reduced to gesture politics, not even willing to launch a motion of no confidence in the government that could lead to a General Election.
The Labour party now has so little faith in itself and the voters that it thinks making Theresa May the scapegoat for Brexit can absolve its conscience for failing to provide a viable alternative to the Tory party’s Brexit Agreement.
What a pity that Labour is paralysed and incapable of producing the same unity, enthusiasm and determination in fighting this appalling Tory government as it did fighting against devolving more powers to Holyrood during the Smith Commission debates in Westminster.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
READ MORE: Why the SNP is accusing Labour of 'missing an open goal'
I TOTALLY agree with George Kervan’s article about the SNP getting involved directly in trying to stop Brexit (Now may be our best ever chance of indy, December 17). The Machiavellian manoeuvring within the Tory party and the stunned ineptitude of the Labour “opposition” is tearing the British state apart. Surely we want the break-up of the British state – not to save it! They have done us no favours, they will do us no favours. Even if we help save them, they’ll still insist we get back in our box and shut up except when they need us.
The “new EU referendum vote” movement is being increasingly led by toxic names such as Blair and Mandelson. Do we want to be tarred with their baggage? A second referendum, whatever the result,
will cause great strife and hatred; do we want to be a focus of that? England is increasingly moving to and being lead by the right. If Brexit goes ahead, I can see the UK having an increasingly vile right-wing political agenda that very well may end up running the country. Do we want to be caught in that and be trapped in that?
Surely they are doing us a huge favour by showing how bankrupt, dysfunctional and what a spent force beset by narrow right-wing nationalism and xenophobia the British state is. This mess adds hugely to our argument for independence! We don’t want to be part of trying to stick a political sticking plaster on what is a severe, putrid and festering wound that can only spread a nasty infection!!
We have a great opportunity to escape this utter mess with independence, and how much a better time and scenario can we wait for and expect than now? No, we should not be waiting for that magical repeated 60% poll. We could so easily fall into a dangerous trap; either becoming central figures of the new EU referendum campaign, distracted from independence, or not going for indy2 now or very soon, and end up with an even more vile UK Government!
Brexit is paralysing the UK Government – don’t let it paralysis our fight for independence!
Crìsdean Mac Fhearghais
Dùn Eideann
READ MORE: There may never be a better time to call a second Scottish independence referendum
I COULD not agree more with George Kerevan – now is the time to bring forward the moment of independence. Why on earth the SNP are devoting so much time to salvaging a Brexit deal to save “little England” is beyond me.
Scotland voted to Remain overwhelmingly, as did Ireland. Judging by the mainstream media hysteria, somehow we in our real world are supposed to feel empathy whilst endlessly watching these people fall apart.
Sorry, but I will not let the SNP’s lazy approach towards independence go unheeded. One thing I disagreed with Mr Kerevan about was the 2017 General Election – the SNP didn’t lose so many seats due to any other reason than the fact that during that election all opposition parties continually bombarded the SNP (as did the the press) with talk of independence. What did the SNP respond with? Nothing. And their lack of communication about that issue resulted in people walking away; they didn’t vote.
If Scotland is going to to take control of its future, the time is now.
M Logan
Edinburgh
I SEE the “monocled martinet” Rees-Smug was at it again in Westminster on Monday, arguing against a EUref2 on the grounds that it would give the Scots justification for “being allowed” an indyref2. So what? It’s called democracy. The case for the former, based on the misinformation and financial illegalities perpetrated by the Leave campaign, is strong. The case for the latter is overwhelming, regardless of what happens in the rUK.
Archie McArthur
Edinburgh
A SALUTARY reminder and warning from the Dutch PM, Mark Rutte. He has issued a warning to his country in an open advert in the Dutch newspapers. In it he outlines what can happen and is happening in Britain due to Brexit chaos when a country does not pull together.
However, he has specifically identified another cause for concern which Scotland should take note of. He identifies England in particular: “Just look at England and see the enormous damage it does.” The Brexit chaos has been instigated by the English parties at Westminster. Both upholders of a mythical glorious past oath from a right- and left-wing perspective, aided and abetted by the worst excesses of the gutter press in recent memory.
The Brexit debacle points up conclusively that the collective English party political psyche is the problem transcending the parties of the duopoly. The branches of these parties have one overriding aim, and that is to keep Scotland captive in this now caustic Union irrespective of the lasting damage now being perpetrated.
The Brexit chaos has opened up the fault line across the present UK. We should bear in mind the Anglophile Mark Rutte’s timely and insightful reminder.
John Edgar
Kilmaurs
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