I WAS enthralled by the events of the Supreme Court today. However, this result has left me with more questions than answers, in particular the issue of where this decision of the judges has left our case for independence.
I have been a staunch advocate for Scotland to take its place as a small independent nation among the many successful and vibrant small nations of the EU. Will this result harm our aim to motivate the multitude of soft No’s towards confirmed Yessers?
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I say this due to the fact that the Supreme Court appears to have agreed with the Court of Session’s views that this prorogation was a matter the law courts could deal with and as such the prorogation was done, in the words of the Scottish judges, to stymie parliament’s ability to hold the government to account.
I believe we mustn’t lose sight of the goal with which we strive, that at the SNP conference in three weeks there is nothing less than a direct and unequivocal stance within the manifesto of the forthcoming General Election that a vote for the SNP is a vote for another independence referendum in 2020.
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Without such, the voices of those who argue that the leadership of the SNP are not interested in having a second referendum due to their apparent unwillingness to forgo their gravy train will only grow louder and more pronounced. I have faith in both the MSPs and MPs of the SNP and as a member of this great party believe that they are dealing with the situation as best they can.
Those who argue that they are avoiding a second indyref forget that until we have a new referendum, Scotland is still part of this disunited kingdom and as such we have to always try and mitigate measures taken by this ultra-right-wing Westminster government. To believe that we can either have the nonsensical and potentially illegal unilateral declaration of independence, or not even attempt to fight against the government in Westminster in the hope this helps our cause, is one of complete and utter stupidity in my opinion.
Jim McKaig
via email
THE ruling by the UK Supreme Court is, without doubt, the most damning and significant blow delivered to a sitting Prime Minister in my lifetime!
More important, however, was the directness, strength and unanimity of the ruling. The Prime Minister of the UK has been found guilty of misleading the Crown, parliament and, most importantly, the people. Boris Johnson has, deliberately in my opinion, lied to all of us, putting his own political, personal and ideological interests above those of our parliament and those it represents. His position should be untenable. However, given the current ability of politicians to shed controversy like ducks shed water, I doubt we will see him go, at least in the short term (though one can only hope that he does).
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Leaving the EU without a deal would be economic and social suicide. Parliament, now, can do its utmost to ensure this does not happen.
As for where this leaves Scotland, it can only strengthen the argument that Westminster does not, and cannot, speak for or represent the views of the Scottish people. Only an independent Scotland, within the EU, led by a strong, principled government that is answerable to the Scottish electorate, can lead Scotland into a future that sees a protected, well funded NHS; a socially responsible (and fair) standpoint on the future of our elderly, disabled and unemployed; and an outward-looking, inclusive view on immigration.
We need independence from the shambles that is Westminster. We need it now. The alternative is, frankly, unthinkable!
Scott L Montgomery
via email
WONDERFUL news! I feel sanity has returned to the UK.
Boris Johnson must resign immediately. And an election should be called as soon as possible, with all political parties making it clear where they stand on Brexit. The winners will then have a mandate to act upon. I hope a pro-European party will be elected for the sake of everyone in the UK.
I know that the SNP will win Scotland with an even bigger majority, and that will be our mandate for a second independence referendum. The debacle of the last weeks has made up many minds that we need independence from a corrupt and incompetent Westminster.
Jean Anderson
Glasgow
I WOULD like to see the Scottish Government ask the Scottish Court of Session to rule as to whether the 1707 Act of Union can be declared unlawful on the grounds that one party, England, has consistently broken many of the clauses of that Act and has not treated Scotland as an equal partner in that Union.
If the Scottish court were to declare that Act illegal, or sufficiently broken to allow it to be negated, the West minster government might want to appeal to the Supreme Court, in which case I would hope that Scotland would have Joanna Cherry and Aidan O’Neill arguing for the judgment of the Scottish court.
Surely a Scottish judgment to declare the Act of Union broken would be sufficient for international recognition for an independent Scotland?
Ann Rayner
Edinburgh
WITHOUT any doubt, Boris MUST resign – he has clearly broken the law.
In recent years there has been a growing trend for politicians and CEOs of plcs to consider that serious misdemeanours are NOT serious enough to consider resigning. Surely, this misdemeanour is serious enough. A General Election is inevitable and the sooner the better.
I think indyref2 is being gradually strengthened by the antics of Boris and co – I can see the election campaign in Scotland being vigorous and joyful.
Alex Thomson
Coldstream
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