WHILE the Tory Government has successfully dragged us into a quagmire of isolationism and near-nihilism, Europe is getting on with planning for the future as dictated to by ever-changing circumstances brought about by environmental issues and long-term effects of technologies.

It is to be hoped that our MEPs will be attending the International Conference in Brussels from August 23-26 on the theme Soul of Europe – Facing Europe`s Challenges: Balancing diversity, solidarity and unity. It’s tragic to consider that Britain as a whole will not be represented in these discussions and – worse – that it thinks it can function on its own.

From the outset, Scotland has voted by a majority to remain part of the EU where, unlike being a member of the UK, we would contribute as an equal and be recognised as worthy of that regard. As written on a T-shirt I spotted recently, “small country: big inventions”.

It’s worth remembering, too, that to be in any form of government or position of power is to be there to serve the people and not for any form of self-aggrandisement. Something the majority of the Tory Party seems to have forgotten, although it could be argued that the news media is failing in its duty to report only matters of importance to us and to leave salacious personal gossip to the gutter press.

Janet Cunningham
Stirling