THE fact that the democratic process is broken in the Dis-United Kingdom must surely be apparent to even the most ardent Unionist apologist within Scotland’s border?
The English state lurches further and further to the right of politics (which unwillingly pulls all other component parts of the UK in the same direction), and a man most unsuited to wearing the mantle of UK Prime Minister moves closer to being handed the keys to 10 Downing Street.
With his arrival as the future PM, there is a very credible supposition that Mr Farage will be influencing UK Government policy directly or indirectly, which will allow the hard right a stage to further their abhorrent racist beliefs and prejudice through the halls of Westminster. A dangerous conduit for the political rise of a BritNat version of fascism.
I am mindful that in 1933, the German Republic handed over the complete control of its democratic process to a charlatan who promised the different political parties that Germany would regain its rightful place on the world stage. Herr Hitler’s party would rebuild industry and make the German Empire rise from the ashes. Change Germany to Britain. The same jingoistic patriotic rhetoric apparently still enthrals the gullible and those who feel disenfranchised.
They are in this position due to the policies of austerity implemented by the very same Tory party that wish to push the blame for its own mismanagement of the country on other nations and nationals. You can empty the entire British Isles of “foreigners”. I very much doubt that it will improve the lot of the proletariat at all?
I now see that my uncle and my cousins who went to war in 1939 to stop the evils of fascism might as well not have bothered, as we now see it’s acceptable to see individuals waving the flag of the Union whilst giving Nazi salutes. This is a distorted display of British (English) exceptionalism, and the long-held belief that the British state has a mandate from the Anglo Saxon Christian God Almighty to rule over other peoples of the world.
For myself, all I see is a fading ex-colonial power embarrassing itself with jaded (rose-tinted) false memories of former glories, convincing itself that its rule and aggressive invasions of other countries was without error, blame or shame. The “British flag” isn’t a flag of emancipation, it is a flag of subjugation and imperialism at its worst.
Scotland and its parliament is in direct danger of being smothered by the controlling member of the “precious union”. Once Boris is in enthroned, the claim that “democracy” is what the Tory Party stands for will prove to be nothing more than “double think”.
Sandy Allan
Newburgh Ellon
MAY not be the best analogy, but I see the Tory party trying to both balance and progress at the same time on a three-legged stool. One leg is Brexit, and it has claimed the last two PMs, Cameron and May. The second leg is the need for a leader who can unite the party and win the next General Election. The third leg is the fear of a General Election.
The latter is based on the most recent results from the EU MEP elections and their inability to win the Peterborough by election. Those two sets of results were not failures for the Tories. They were downright humiliation. Fuelling that fear is the knowledge that their own right-wingers, the ERG and their followers, are all moving off to Farage and his policy-lacking new party. Their less extreme supporters have obviously voted for the LibDems, and yes, even the Greens, but never, ever Labour.
Any Tory talk then of bridge building, bringing the country together doesn’t include Scotland. That “togetherness” means doing whatever is required to ensure Tory political survival in government. So with that overall haemorrhaging of votes away from the Tory party, who doesn’t believe that the new PM will offer some form of alliance to Farage? The pact with the DUP is with this government and thus due for review. So Farage and his party could be in line for an “advising” role regarding Brexit negotiations. Or even all the way for Tories to stand back to the benefit of Farage candidates in a few Labour held seats come that inevitable, general election. Peterborough demonstrates that potential. In all of this then, let’s not fool ourselves. Scotland doesn’t feature. Labour here is an irrelevance. And the latest blow to Ruth and the outcomes of the poll, demonstrates that within Tory heartlands, they don’t even rank us in their post Brexit future.
Since I cannot halt the process of appointing the new PM, I refuse to worry and possibly raise my blood pressure, though I do resort to shouting at the tv. I do worry about Scotland’s imminent future, post PM appointment, meaning I can only have faith that the FM and Scottish Government is preparing for the future and the road to independence, and the prominent role that the grassroots will play again. Before that time, no matter when it comes, I’m sure I’m not alone in looking forward to progressing those10,000 conversations not just with the soft nos, the maybes and the undecided, But with those who quietly know: now is the time to acknowledge they need to change their vote to Yes next time round.
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh
WELL done to all at The National on the new “Big Enough, Rich Enough, Smart Enough” campaign starting this weekend. I’m an online subscriber but will be buying a copy tomorrow.
The National has already made an invaluable contribution to the cause, and we all hope the latest campaign will lead us soon to independence.
The Union bias in all forms of media in this country never ceases to amaze and depress me. Truly disgraceful.
Well done again.
C Tainsh
via email
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