IN Theresa May’s faux-cosy fireside chat the most damning statement to be uttered was that pernicious “dog whistle” that there was agreement to end “freedom of movement”.
Freedom of movement was not imposed by Brussels, it was agreed through the Council of Ministers of which the UK was a part and had the right of veto.
Freedom of movement was the ultimate triumph over xenophobia, where countries opened up and mutually welcomed people to come across borders and live and work and raise families among fellow EU citizens. That is the ultimate hallmark of a civilised society which holds out the welcoming hand and not the clenched fist!
By making that statement Theresa May and Labour have degraded themselves, none more so than Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party, the so-called party of the working people!
That is a shocking signal to send! It is xenophobic, it demonises and it attacks a fundamental human right.
Let us make certain when Scotland is finally outwith the Westminster system we will be a welcoming and open society that will be willing to sign up to freedom of movement and enable people to be welcomed and share in our future.
John Edgar
Kilmaurs
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