I WATCHED with great interest the latest PMQs and in particular the performance of Boris Johnson. Both the content and delivery of the PM’s responses were not only disappointing but merely reinforced the fact that this was a politician totally out of his depth. He clearly is unable to understand what PMQs represents, or actually does not care either way. With his majority of 80 seats, frankly, the only politicians he needs to be afraid of are his own bankbenchers.
With the return of parliament you would expect this PM to be ready to ensure that he had prepared answers to the appalling performance of his government in relation to the Covid crisis and a Keir Starmer ready to take him to task on the plethora of “U-turns” which can only be described as a humiliation of the highest order.
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As predicted, Starmer, with his incisiveness and understanding of the detail, completely humiliated this Prime Minister, standing alone, looking totally forlorn, with nothing to offer but bluster, excuses, wild accusations and as usual making responses totally devoid of any attempt to provide meaningful answers.
This pointless Westminster was overwhelmingly empty, with those seated completely bemused at the spectacle being rolled out before them. The Tory MPs were as usual sycophantically nodding and reacting to every Johnson exaggeration and animated comment.
Time and again Keir Starmer and Ian Blackford asked Johnson to extend the period of furlough to save jobs and fend off unemployment. Johnson merely brushed these pleas aside, suggesting that it was time for all to return to work and “stop languishing at home!”, adding that the Tory government had finally suppressed the Covid epidemic.
A sense of surrealism exists in this political chamber of horrors. As our country continues to fight this life-or-death pandemic the UK Government carries on regardless, as if all is well and they are doing a great job. However, Johnson’s was a strained, subdued, stuttering performance. It’s clear there are those in his party who may at last be fed up with “U-turns” and who themselves are wanting stronger more competent leadership.
All of this is in sharp contrast to Nicola Sturgeon’s performance at Holyrood. She epitomises strong leadership and competence and gets her message across with ease. Her Programme for Government was delivered to Holyrood in a way PM Johnson could never hope to emulate. Never before has such a chasm developed been the clear competence of our FM in the running of the Scottish Government and the disastrous amateurism of the PM at Westminster.
Dan Wood
Kirriemuir
YET another Scottish Tory leader, Douglas Ross, is knocked back by London head office, as well as being mauled by the Scottish Farmers Union for misleading the public over false food standard claims. This only adds to the sheer incompetence of Boris Johnson’s government in dealing with Scotland, Covid and Brexit, along with the deception of the UK being led by the shady Dominic Cummings.
As one of the sovereign nations of the 1707 Treaty of Union, Scotland’s separate law, education and religious systems were all enshrined and guaranteed in perpetuity – which Westminster MPs appear to be unaware of, having assumed Scotland had been absorbed into England. Listen to the hollow Tory mantras “union of equals” and “family of nations”!
READ MORE: 'Stop lying': Douglas Ross warned over 'once-in-a-generation' indyref claim
However, there is a serious development when Scotland’s legal system is under attack by a Westminster parliament attempting to control or indeed shut down the Holyrood parliament. The Lord Chancellor of England is setting up a review to curb other legal jurisdictions within the UK holding Westminster to account for the legality of their actions. This is dangerous and could lead to greater civil unrest than the hated poll tax.
Enough is enough. Scotland has been taunted, ignored and dragged out of the EU against its will by yet another Tory government it did not vote for.
The fact is that unlike Labour, the Greens and the LibDems, the Tory party has never bought into devolution, far less independence.
Since richly endowed Scotland leads the EU in renewable energy technology and rejects nuclear weapons, it is inevitable that Britain, with its ethos of empire, will cease when Scotland once again takes its place in Europe and the world as an independent nation; inter-dependent and in harmony with the other nations of the British Isles.
Grant Frazer
Newtonmore
SCOTLAND is one of the last colonies of the British Empire. More than 60 have escaped colonial control, with none (maybe Hong Kong excepted) seeking re-control from London. As one of the best-known and biggest escapees was the United States of America, may I suggest we nominate the July 4 either as independence referendum day or Independence Day? This should hit home on several fronts – July 4 is one of the most memorable independence dates and it makes it more difficult for Americans to object, as Obama did in 2014!
On slogans, we know they make a difference – maybe The National could have a competition. For example: Scotland is not a colony – vote Yes! Or Freedom! Or Take back Control!
In terms of different strands of the Yes movement, we should welcome this as a positive! If they work together, we should show it as a strength, ie it is not just the SNP!
An optimistic thought. With Keir Starmer increasing the Labour vote in England, it is possible the Tories could conclude that without Scotland, they could be guaranteed control in England and Wales. As many of their English voters don’t care if Scotland becomes independent, self-interest could change their “precious Union” position.
Dr Kris Hansen
Edinburgh
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