THERE can now be no doubt that government as practised by Westminster is a failure.

Quitting the EU, the wish of the UK in 2016, has been given no effect. Instead, Britain will on May 23 participate in electing MEPs to a rejected European Parliament and the payments to Brussels, carefully not mentioned by the government, will continue. As soon as the UK departure from the EU guaranteed by Westminster is achieved, those MEPs are jobless!

The Prime Minister has confirmed her departure will occur immediately after her withdrawal “deal” is approved by Parliament. There is no evidence of that happening any time soon. In commerce the CEO of any organisation relinquishes authority immediately upon announcing an intention to resign.

While the PM has clearly lost authority she cannot be challenged now, due solely to the rules of the Conservative party. Her government therefore, while supported neither in the House nor by the nation, is immune to removal by the former despite defeat after defeat which would have secured the opposite result at any time in the past. In power but not in charge!

Recent local authority elections in England and Wales illustrate a rejection of both major parties but a total disapproval of the one in power.

Meanwhile, in Scotland Holyrood is functioning free of the turmoil occurring daily at Westminster. Regrettably, however, the Scottish Government is not free of the influence, or the interference, of Westminster. The emissaries of the London parties, masquerading as supporters of Scotland’s aims and aspirations of success, demonstrate a constant desire simply to parrot all that their “head offices” dictate. The criticisms and objections to the government’s actions, none of which can seriously be described as detrimental to the wellbeing of Scotland, are almost moronic.

A comparison of efficacy between Holyrood and Westminster will demonstrate completely that given a totally free hand, Scotland is perfectly capable of conducting its own governmental affairs. It would take no great effort or intelligence to avoid the disasters self-inflicted by Westminster.

J Hamilton
Bearsden

I DIDN’T read the Herald on Sunday last week. I was too busy remembering events from the wonderful day before, from Callum Baird handing out free copies of The National to the thousands that poured past him to the massive goodwill of flags and inspirational encouragement, from pavements, bridges and windows that accompanied us all the way to Glasgow Green. Thank you All Under One Banner: you make the campaign glow with hope.

Probably a key moment for us all, the many tens of thousands who marched together on Saturday, was the massively positive power we had – from our singing, whistling, bagpipes, drums and, most of all, our laughing and smiling – as we swept past a poor wee perplexed and bitter bunch of Union jacks shouting angry abuse from a corner.

If they could understand the irony, they’d be angrier still. Their abuse made us feel even more positive and determined, knowing we didn’t need to respond: it was more than enough that we were moving forward with such purpose, unity and delight.

This is the momentum that is taking Scotland past the old pitfalls of hostile media, Davidson chanting, Westminster lies and abuse of power – all the way to independence.

Wisdom is a wonderful thing. Wisdom after the event – as we all know – can be a momentous epiphany.

From the bottom of my heart, I hope that Angus Robertson, Alyn Smith, Stewart McDonald, SNP HQ – and the whole of the wonderful YES movement – emerge from last Sunday’s Herald with an amazing variety of individual and group epiphanies: positively.

Scotland is at last winning this battle; we just have to keep moving forward together, like last Saturday, devastatingly.

Last week’s Herald on Sunday, still unread in my house, surely just made us all a bit wiser still. Let’s get on with it.

Frances McKie
Evanton, Ross-shire

FOR health reasons (I was jiggered!) I had to bail out of last Saturday’s magnificent march close to George Square. Before heading for Queen Street Station I briefly found myself adjacent to a Union flag-waving Rangers supporter (the top gave it away), who was screaming vile abuse, much of it directed at fellow Rangers supporters who were on the march.

What on earth has happened to this once proud Scottish club? When I first started following the national team back in the 1960s, probably the majority of the crowd were Rangers fans, but not any more. Amazingly, Celtic are now by far the more Scottish club. I never thought I would say that.

Ian Baillie
Alexandria

I HAVE been interested to read a variety of views about the value of the big All Under One Banner independence marches, but I think it’s misguided to criticise the SNP leadership for failing to assert themselves by a more visible presence.

Imagine if Nicola Sturgeon stole the show at a march: there would be tabloid headlines about an “SNP takeover” and more false controversy about “divisions” within the independence movement.

I think we have the right balance at the moment.

The marches are great for the morale of activists. Senior SNP figures attend casually and unassertively, and SNP symbols are muted. But I always unashamedly wear my “Stronger for Scotland” T-shirt!

Derek Ball
Bearsden