FOR more than 500 years Scotland traded across the North Sea and the Baltic. We traded through Scandinavia, Poland, Russia, France and the rest of Europe.
Our friends in the Western Isles can tell us of the early travels from the Western Isles to Iceland, Greenland and what the Norse sagas called Vinland. North America to us. Our North West Company was so successful throughout Canada that the Hudson Bay Company had turn to parliament to demand that we stop. The North West were forced to concede. How well embedded were we at that time with the native Americans? There’s a creole language called “Bungi”, a mixture of Scots, Gaelic, Cree and Obijwe.
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In the European areas where we traded we were so successful that the Hanseatic League, a very large trading organisation that dominated trade all along the Baltic and North Sea for more than 200 years, tried to have us banned or driven out. We had our own streets, housing, charities, churches and kirks all over the areas we traded. We had exceptional trading rights.
We even had “Scotch berths” in certain areas – berths reserved for vessels trading to and from Scotland. This then is a small part, but a small part only, of our trading history across Europe and North America. There are two people whose writings on these links are encyclopedic, Jim Hunter and Billy Kay.
That was then.
Now we find ourself in a situation not of our making. A situation foisted upon us by another country’s politics and votes. We are being dragged out of the EU against our democratically stated wish to remain. We see Honda having to close down for a day because of material shortages. Westminster cannot guarantee the supply of food in the new year. The giant lorry park being built in a Kent flood plain demonstrates not only the stupidity but also the arrogant cupidity of those in charge. Is there anything we can do to circumvent this situation?
Actually, yes there is.
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On the open market there are ferries available for sale or charter. There are new and secondhand vessels advertised on various sites. Ferries of every size, capability, speed, sea going ability, certification and price. The Scottish Government need to access information on the facilities available at our ports to ascertain which of these can take ferries and what type and size of ferries they can accommodate. If onshore works are required to accept the loading and unloading requirements of the vessels, this need not be insurmountable. We are a nation of engineers, after all.
The government should then buy or charter the vessels. There can be customs and excise officers on site at the ports to allow clearance of the vehicles and cargoes. We do not need the freeport facility that might be on offer from Westminster. Freeports only enrich a few people at the expense of the majority. Probably why the Westminster government think them a good idea.
This would ensure the security of our supplies and exports. Come January, our European friends will have no need to profess any friendship for a country that has treated them disgracefully over Brexit and across the years. We, on the other hand, have demonstrated our willingness to remain an open European nation. Europe needs OUR fishing grounds and our top-quality food and drinks.
Would Westminster “allow” this? We must nail our colours to the mast and, if necessary, defy Westminster.
Our Scottish Red Ensign was used by our navy until 1707, after which it was made a criminal offence to fly it as an ensign. I have flown the ensign on my small yachts over the decades. More and more like-minded Scots are also doing so. It is time for it to be used once again on our commercial vessels.
AM Johnston
Lochwinnoch
I MUST take issue with Alastair Naughton of Aberdeen over his attack on Mhairi Black MP (Letters, December 10). Ms Black used the word “concessions” as that was what being said about Northern Ireland, and asked for parity. Mr Naughton also takes a poke at the SNP for not immediately dumping the Union of the Parliaments in 1707; a consummation devoutly to be wished, but we need a little help from our friends, ie the people
of Scotland. The Treaty of 1707 was a sham and the SNP is the only weapon capable of overturning it. We don’t need another group to rear its ugly head and muddy the water.
Jim Lynch
Edinburgh
I’LL tell you what makes me want to scream. People like Alastair Naughton, who contrives to make Mhairi Black’s demand that the people of Scotland be given the same opportunities as Northern Ireland sound like defeatism. I wonder if he’s spotted the irony of apparently preferring Ms Black to sit mutely on her hands. The Brexit situation was not what we voted for and the current shambles is not of our making. Nevertheless, this is where we are and it’s the responsibility of our elected representatives to try to make the best of a bad job. And to suggest that Mhairi Black uses conciliatory language is to fly in the face of reality.
Douglas Turner
Edinburgh
HAVE never considered Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab the sharpest tool in the Cabinet, but surely he can put in a word for Scotland since he is furious at the EU for disrespecting democracy. In his enthusiasm to leave the EU he might care to look over his shoulder and think a bit harder, and it might dawn on him that Scotland seeks to leave his infernal UK and remain in the EU. It is truly galling, if not laughable that he spouts forth his fury to the media yet cannot see the blatant duplicity in his concern. Foreign Secretary for UK maybe, but certainly not for all of it, surprise, surprise!
Tom Gray
Braco
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