THE outcome of the by-election in Buckinghamshire in which Labour lost its deposit and came fourth is clear: if your are the opposition, you must oppose.
If the Labour party had carried out its duty to fight the Tories tooth and nail, they would not have sunk this low. They could have fought Brexit on the simple basis that it was a bad idea and that the Tories are a self-serving clique of spivs and capitalists – and been proved right. They could have, from instinct, attacked on the NHS’s lack of readiness for pandemics, and need for massive investment – and again been shown to be correct by events.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson tries to play down by-election loss to the LibDems
As the party of the workers, they should have battled for proper employment arrangements coupled to trade union protections – and been right on principle when employment has been overwhelmed by Covid and required billions of pounds of government interventions. They could have supported the Palestinians and Syrian democrats – and been on the side of peace.
Could they not have opposed Trident for the same reason, closed down the Lords and reformed the voting system; come out against the suppression of the rights of Scotland which is but a part of their old policy of de-colonisation? Even those could not have left them with only 622 votes.
The SNP is the opposition to the Tories in Scotland. They also should, on principle, fight everything unrelentingly: Brexit and all its resulting deals, political manipulation and secretive changes of the law to suit Tory plans, power grabs and propaganda. Shout on behalf of Scotland until you are hoarse, as the Tartan Army does. The SNP was elected to gain independence. By the next Scottish election, if such an sad occasion comes about and is not replaced by the first independent election, the opposition will perhaps be a reformed Labour party, Alba and a Green party which will by then be part of a worldwide movement.
David Pratt has spoken of all this in The National. The SNP must do its duty.
Iain WD Forde
Scotlandwell
IT is Boris for indy noo! After the English LibDem victory in the by-election, meaning bye-bye to the Tories, the “blue wall” is in danger. Labour are nowhere, so Labour in Scotland are now no doubt realising that the dream of a Labour government irrespective of leader has become a nightmare!
But the Tory leader must now make moves to minimise potential opposition in a future Commons.
The answer is indy for England and the end of the Union. This cuts out the vast numbers of SNP MPs to swell the ranks of an anti-Tory opposition. There must always be an (Tory) England, so runs the ditty!
READ MORE: Mike Small: We're watching helplessly as England rips itself apart
The few Tory MPs from Scotland and the dribs and drabs of other Scottish Unionist MPs are expendable, of course, to the Tories. And so is the Union, which will now become a threat to Tory hegemony at Westminster!
“Now IS the time” – a new mantra for Boris to use to keep the Tory Blue Wall in tact and hasten the end of the United Kingdom to preserve a true England! The Northern Irish are expendable too, as it will rid England of the pesky Irish Question!
The venerable shape-shifter will promulgate the new Tory indy strategy under the watchwords “Get Indy Done!” or “Indy for Ingerland!”
John Edgar
Kilmaurs
IT appears that Labour’s Andy Burnham now expects the First Minister of Scotland to communicate directly with England’s city mayors rather than communicate through the UK Four Nations forums (Burnham and FM in row over travel ban to Manchester, June 20).
Certainly there is a logical argument that areas directly affected by policies made in other areas should courteously be informed in advance of implementation, especially if not involved in prior discussions, but health is a devolved responsibility and Manchester is not yet in a region of Scotland.
WATCH: Andy Burnham steps up attack on Scottish Government over travel ban
However, Scotland is supposedly a “partner in the Union” and not only has the Scottish Government not been consulted or involved in discussions ahead of the signing of the Tory-lauded “Australia Deal”, we still do not even know the details of this “deal”, which could be devastating to the livelihoods of Scottish farmers and those employed in other sectors of the UK economy.
It is understandable that the Mayor of Manchester, who naturally voices concerns of the people he represents, is frustrated in having to work with a Prime Minister who seems to think that having a conversation with himself in the shower is representative of a world-leading democracy in action.
Perhaps if Mr Burnham soon becomes leader of the Labour party, his apparent belief in open democracy will be manifest in his instruction to the leader of Labour’s Scottish branch office to support the holding of a second independence referendum?
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
THERE has been consternation about Boris Johnson’s deal with Australia, which would affect Scottish meat producers.
Another concern that seems to be overlooked is that in coffee shops and restaurants customers are supplied with individual portions of butter, jam, sugar etc all sourced outside Scotland. Why?
This does not happen in other countries, which are careful to use their own goods.
Margaret Pennycook
Pollokshields
SPORTSMEN taking the knee began in the USA during the playing of the national anthem as a protest against the alienation of minority populations.
The right time for Scots players to kneel was when the English claimed the anthem of the so-called “United” Kingdom as their own.
Ni Holmes
via email
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