A SAD day indeed it is when prominent figures in politics are such as it is excusable to label as imbeciles. Maybe too many leading politicians of the past were corruptible, callous, and indifferent to the circumstances of the common people, but generally they did not come across as buffoons. And now, far enough into the third millennium of organised human affairs to expect improvement in human conduct, particularly in those we would designate as “leaders”, look at what we’ve got!

A US president who doesn’t so much talk to the adult population as though they are babies but who talks like a baby himself, and in England a bumbling Prime Minister who communicates on the same basic vocabulary level as his US counterpart.

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Neither should be taken seriously by any sensible member of the public. Yet it seems they are, which raises concerning questions as to the situation in both societies where these so-called leaders have come to positions of power.

Both contradict themselves incessantly and exhibit behavioural traits which would be worrying in people less elevated in society.

They give the impression of preferring untruth to truth, put financial gain on a pedestal, and constantly discount the values that one would say are fundamental to any civilised society.

They are rich material for cartoonists and for those into caricature, but surely such people don’t merit being the centrepieces of elections and suchlike? Otherwise, what has gone wrong with the world?

Ian Johnstone
Peterhead

WITH the latest opinion polls indicating majority support for independence, with the SNP looking set for a General Election landslide, and with the Scottish Parliament already democratically mandated to hold an independence referendum, the UK Prime Minister is adamant that he won’t grant Scots permission to hold indyref2.

In the face of this most recent expression of contempt for the democratic will of the people of Scotland, are there really voters out there who are still deluding themselves that we are in some kind of “Union”? Clearly Westminster regards Scotland as nothing more than a possession. Fortunately, under the determined and courageous leadership of Nicola Sturgeon, we will soon be disabusing them of this notion.

Billy Scobie
Alexandria

MANY thanks, Lorna Campbell, for your Long Letter (Currently devolved powers cannot just be grabbed back, November 1). Boris and the Unionist parties are sending a message to Scotland that our institutions are powerless and that they can and will bulldoze them should they decide to do so. This plays well to the Scottish cringe and to all those who are uncertain about, or simply don’t believe in, not just our right but our ability to govern ourselves.

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It is also an attempt to dampen the resolve of committed indy supporters like me. So it was heartening to read that if the leaders of the Unionist parties “continue their attacks on the Scottish NHS in the run-up to the election they should be informed that they will be reported to the Electoral Commission and, if they persist, they will be served with a court order on the basis that they are conflating reserved and devolved powers in a General Election and acting ultra vires”.

This is the language I would like to hear from our politicians. I have total respect for our SNP and Green politicians but they need to send a clear message to the people that we are not weak and powerless bystanders in this debate.

Noirin Blackie
Haddington

I’D like to thank and congratulate Kirsty Strickland for her masterful column in Saturday’s National in which she eloquently exposed the rancid hypocrisy, malevolence and greed of Colonel Davidson, doyen of the photo op and PR guru, never happier than when she was perched on a tank or a buffalo (Some subjects should be off-limits in politics, November 2). My only regret is that she will continue to be funded by the taxpayer. I wonder what Emily Davison would have made of her. However, be of good cheer. Ann Widdecombe, the Ginger Rogers of Strictly Come Dancing, which she transformed, at a stroke, into Walpurgisnacht, has emerged from Dracula Castle to team up with “Fags and Beer” Farage. Watch this space.

Joe Cowan
Balmedie

SUNDAY morning, having breakfast, while on Facebook. The TV is on and Marr is giving the non-party leader Farage another free go at getting his tawdry message across.

But I’m listening to Humza Yousaf, on Saturday in Glasgow. The contrast couldn’t be stronger. A message of close the borders, beaten down in Freedom Square, as Humza reminds us that Glasgow was the first UK city to welcome Syrian refugees. Memory sharpens and the fact of a street named after Nelson Mandela springs to mind.

We are better than anything Farage offers. Those shining baubles have no value. Those of us old enough remember those dark days, and darker nights, lit only by a candle, if you were lucky. The IMF bailouts and soaring inflation. The strikes and the ineffectual, short-lived governments that couldn’t effectively govern.

The Brexit playing out on the TV clashes with Saturday’s hope-filled speeches. It’s not my Brexit, I want none of it. It’s a foreign Brexit, playing out on foreign telly, about a different country. I’ve less need, or interest in it than third-league German football.

Marr is foreign to me. Quite why I even turn it on is beyond me. Bit like picking at old scabs. Far past time we left it alone and healed.

Brian Kelly
Dunfermline