XANDER Richards’s article “Tories look to ‘undo’ devolution to unify UK” (November 28) exposes the sheer hypocrisy existing within the Tory party both north and south of the Border.
The PM Boris Johnson says that devolution in Scotland has been a disaster then says he supports devolution, only to be contradicted by Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons, who wants to “undo” devolution – chaos in the ranks. It will be interesting to see if Douglas Ross MP and Ruth Davidson MSP will support the proposals to abolish the Scottish Parliament and resurrect Westminster’s control of Scotland.
READ MORE: Jacob Rees-Mogg says Tories 'must undo' devolution and restore constitution
I wonder how many people in Scotland would have preferred if PM Boris Johnson, rather than FM Nicola Sturgeon, had been in charge of Scotland’s battle against Covid-19.
It would appear that people in England have little or no confidence in the PM’s “leadership” and this could be responsible for the poor performance in England by those trying to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Until Jacob Rees-Mogg, who could be a character from Charles Dicken’s David Copperfield (no prizes for guessing who) and his ilk stop believing that “Britannia rules the waves” and realise Britannia is knackered, the sooner we will start a meaningful part in the real world.
Thomas L Inglis
Fintry
JACOB Rees-Mogg’s desire to abolish the Scottish Parliament is no empty threat. Brexit ideology rests on a vision of the sovereign state which crystallised in Europe two-and-a-half centuries ago and which demands undivided allegiance from its citizens – that is, no shared loyalties with foreign states (external distinction) and no regional loyalties impairing the unity and indivisibility of the state (internal cohesion).
Sovereign-state ideology was ditched by most Europeans after 1945, but in England, unfamiliar with the horrors of foreign occupation and warfare on its own soil, the old ideas persist – most strongly among members of the traditional elites.
The more the Rees-Moggs of this world witness the decline of their once great power, the stronger becomes their determination to reassert the old ideas. Having revived the principle of external distinction with our exit from the EU, top priority now goes to internal cohesion. A notable article published in Le Monde in 1973 (just as the UK entered the Common Market) observed that Britain faced a choice between social democracy on the Scandinavian model and centralised autocracy on the model of Spain (at the time ruled by Francisco Franco). It is becoming clear which model has been chosen.
Anthony Lodge
Anstruther
IN the interesting profiles in The National over the last few weeks of would-be SNP candidates for Holyrood, I have been delighted to see a much needed potential boost in BAME (and often young) folk to reflect our diverse community. It was shocking to learn through Humza Yousaf’s column on Friday that only one has been so far selected from this background.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf ‘beyond disappointed’ with BAME representation on SNP Holyrood list
A thing that keeps me in the party is our firm commitment to a new Scotland where we celebrate and benefit from the diversity of cultures and backgrounds at all levels. Labour’s Anas Sarwar pointed out in parliament in the summer how lamentably few BAME Scots were represented at the highest levels in public life.
It is urgent that we address this within the SNP, and positive action must be taken at least through the regional lists. Not only will it help to inoculate against the poison of racism, but importantly it will signal that we mean what we say in the SNP in our vision of a fair and equitable Scotland of which we can be proud.
Iain Whyte
North Queensferry
I HAVE some problems with this category of “BAME”. What does it mean and who can be labelled in this way ? Does it simply mean “non-white”? There is something inherently distasteful about using racial and ethnic labels for any purpose. I write as a member of a bi-racial and multi-ethnic extended family.
Hamish Kirk
Rothesay
I AGREE with most of Ronald McNeill’s letter (November 26). I am 81 and up until I left school at age 15, my old man was down a coal mine on Christmas days. Our celebrations were “Xmas fir the bairns an’ New Year fir the groon-ups”.
On Auld Year’s Nicht ( I never called it Hogmanay) me and a pal, another piper, would go playing round the streets.
READ MORE: Letters, November 26
In the houses there was a wealth of hamemade entertainment, great Scotch sangs and stories, a real celebration without lights and trees and tinsel and fairies.
I don’t know if “the Unionists” have been undermining Hogmanay, as Ronald reckons, but something certainly has.
So I’m with Ronald, and you can stick your Xmas where you like. I’ll have a dram at the bells and think Bliadhna Mhath Ur to Ronald and a’body like him!
Kenny Henderson
via email
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