I DECIDED a long time ago that I could no longer watch the antics of the House of Commons on TV. My increasing blood pressure and anger at the general behaviour of most of the “honourable members” is not good for either the mind or body. I confess I have occasionally spent time over a coffee and a chocolate biscuit watching debates in the House of Lords. At least the mainly elderly gentlemen who inhabit it manage to avoid shouting at each other, laughing and behaving like a large class of unruly 12-year-olds.

Often the members of the Lords have real career experience of their subject matter and actually can present a decent argument without resorting to the behaviour of the playground. Ministers in the Lords at least make an attempt to answer questions, unlike their counterparts in the Commons.

I often wonder what a complete stranger to this world would make of it all. Forced to make a choice between abolishing the Commons or the Lords I suspect they might choose to keep the £300-a-day unelected Lords.

So it was no surprise to read that Ian Blackford yet again faced heckling from the Tory benches as he opened a debate calling out the Prime Minister’s “disastrous actions”. He used an opposition day debate to bring forward a motion of censure and point out examples of Tory sleaze. He apparently warned the UK Government that the public would not forget about these examples of “chaotic governance.”

I understand this so-called debate went on for some time, no doubt with contributions from both sides. In the end MPs rejected the SNP motion by a majority of 107. The Prime Minister did not bother to attend the debate and was instead photographed at a food and drink market outside Downing Street.

I’m really not sure what this debate actually achieved. Nothing has changed. Boris will still be Boris. Boris will still be Prime Minister. Tories will still be Tories. Life, as we know it, is unchanged. Outside the Palace of Westminster ordinary folk go about their business. Those lucky enough to be relatively wealthy dream of their next Mercedes, while those on benefits and minimum wages worry about paying the gas bill and what they will be able to buy their weans for Christmas. Some worry about where their next warm meal is coming from.

Back home in Scotland, thousands faced another day and night without electricity. Those who are still connected fear what their next electricity bill will look like. Fears of the latest Covid variant depress us all. The Scottish Health Service is struggling, and the justice system is on its knees.

What relevance to everyday life in Scotland is the SNP’s continuing presence in Westminster? Are they perhaps even adding some kind of credibility to the day-to-day farce? One of the largest increases in SNP membership came on the day, some years ago, when the SNP MPs walked out of the Common’s chamber. Maybe it is time to reconsider if a good, full-time, attendance record is worth the effort.

Now that would be a very interesting debate for the next SNP conference.

Brian Lawson
Paisley

IN response to Alan Magnus-Bennett (Letters, Dec 1), I presume he carries much experience and wisdom locked up in his brain and while on earth is keen to share for the well-being of his fellow citizens.

Indeed, Alex Salmond holds no clout in Holyrood right now, however he is arguably the most astute politician ever to serve Scotland. Having entered and retired from seats twice in both Westminster and Holyrood, experience is what Alex has to offer.

Readers will recall – it was reported in The National two weeks ago – that Ken Clarke, another highly experienced Westminster politician, warned that UK was dangerously close to elected dictatorship under Boris Johnson.

Likewise, Alex has extensive experience of Westminster, in his case gained by no other Scot. I doubt if any other present-day Scottish political figure, our First Minister included, knows the ins and outs, individuals who frequent the place and ways and means of their business better than Mr Salmond. This is gold dust when seeking to overthrow the scandalous behaviour we are enduring right now.

Yes, Nicola Sturgeon is on a time-consuming arduous and ever-winding path to keep us healthy. Meanwhile down south the efforts to curb our independence carry on relentlessly and ever more so with Nicola’s thoughts clearly, and understandably, elsewhere for much of the time. But independence matters!

Many who maintain respect for Alex’s political experience have followed him to Alba and I have got to say I admire their wisdom in doing so.

The race we are now in is to achieve independence before events beyond our control in Westminster – where democracy for Scotland has no place – casts it beyond our reach. Unity of all factions of the Yes movement, as sought by SNP President Michael Russell, is precisely why I believe it makes absolute sense that Nicola and Alex share thoughts on our mission as we move toward our goal.

Tom Gray
Braco

YOU report that Ian Blackford asks for a four-nations meeting to discuss the Covid situation. Why can’t he call for a meeting of the devolved nations himself? By definition there will only be three nations taking part, for let us remember that Johnson has no part in a four-nations approach since he is not the first minister in a devolved English Parliament. This simply does not exist.

There is no English assembly, no English members of an English devolved parliament and there have been no elections to this non-existent entity, as with the real devolved nations.

Richard Easson
Dornoch