Corruption we know about is just the tip of an enormous iceberg at Westminster

It is not a question of whether or not corruption exists in Conservative ranks but just how deep-rooted the endemic and institutionalised malfeasance goes. Their shameless dishonesty is a hallmark of their Johnson-led administration and the latest high-profile representatives to come under investigation for alleged financial impropriety, Jacob Rees-Mogg and the hapless Douglas Ross, throw more light on the arrogance and contempt the Tories have for democracy and the people of the UK.

Rees-Mogg was instrumental in defending the glaring fraudulence of his colleague Owen Paterson and demanding the resignation of Parliamentary Standards Commissioner, Kathryn Stone, in the full knowledge that he was on her “hit list” of MPs who had possibly broken the financial rules by failing to declare outside earnings. The breathtaking level of exceptionalism and downright chutzpah that this Drones-club laughing stock is capable of in trying to change parliamentary procedure and practices to evade punishment speaks volumes of the criminal nature of the Conservative government, its leader and those who knowingly support them because it suits their own selfish narrative.

READ MORE: Jacob Rees-Mogg blatantly ignores Scottish Government's Covid advice

Douglas Ross’s claim that his failure to list outside income was a genuine mistake rings hollow when we recall that this was a man who meticulously recorded travel expenses and lunches as part of his claims as an MP and MSP. He undoubtedly has been doing the job of two men all the while, unfortunately more Laurel and Hardy than a credible representative for his Moray constituents.

With the Prime Minister’s continued disdain for any rules that may affect his social life, news that bigoted Tory Holocaust deniers have joined NHS Grampian health board and a group of Conservative MPs calling for the UK to abandon the human rights act, the amoral and rudderless people who purport to lead the UK Government are mired in sleaze and a financial cesspool of their own making.

In The Lord of the Rings the chief protagonist, Frodo Baggins, was stabbed by the forces of darkness and required urgent help to avoid becoming a servant of Mordor. Scotland’s economy and genuine political autonomy hangs by the same thread at present. The current polls are hugely encouraging but tangible signs of the way to independence must begin now to ensure the people of Scotland can break away from the Machiavellian moral vacuum that Westminster now represents.

Owen Kelly
Stirling

LESLEY Riddoch is spot-on: an independent Scotland does need to stand up for its own principles in respect of the exploitation of the Cambo oil field (Despite what Alex Salmond says, the case for Cambo doesn’t make any sense, Dec 2).

On St Andrews Day I attended a dinner where the speaker advocated that exploitation of Cambo was essential to prove to international influencers that going forward Scotland would be a credible financial entity.

READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: Despite what Alex Salmond says, the case for Cambo makes no sense

With the caveat that I don’t believe this is a pre-referendum issue, rather a matter for an independent Scottish Government to decide in the interest of Scots, my advocating that 800 million barrels of carbon polluting oil would be better remaining where it is was met with a ludicrous argument that this oil represented an “infinitesimal” degree of carbon release on the grand scale, that our atmosphere could easily deal with it, and that exploitation of these reserves were essential to Scotland’s financial well-being and prospects for independence. I admit I was underwhelmed.

Doesn’t beating the Cambo drum tell wavering voters that the only way Scotland can make its way with independence is through its oil reserves, when the opposite is true?

Outwith fossil fuels, Scotland’s economy is well capable of supporting independence, and with full powers to make decisions in our own interest going forward, the potential for even greater development of our economy above and beyond the restrictions imposed by the Union without oil dependence is clearly apparent.

Times have moved on. Scotland would be sending a huge message to the international community by leaving the Cambo oil where it is. And the dividend of international respect that would yield would be worth much more to us than the financial yield to the Westminster Treasury experience shows us we will never get a sniff of.

Jim Taylor
Edinburgh

WE have enjoyed the benefits of an air source heat pump for the past 14 years. For most of that time it has functioned perfectly, however in 2015 it required a replacement control system and that involved a relatively simple request to the main agent in Cork in the Republic of Ireland. They quickly invoiced us, it was paid, and a few days later it arrived. This was in the halcyon pre-Brexit days.

Recently, the system caused a problem and this was diagnosed as a faulty “heat out” sensor which would have to be replaced. I immediately emailed the same company for a replacement and received the following reply: Heat sensor £10.25. Customs clearance fee £47.32 (“Since Brexit that’s the rules”) Total £57.57. Carriage £25, amounting to £82.57. On which will be a VAT amount of £16.51. Making a grand total of £99.08 for a £10.25 sensor!

Financially punishing as a current (small) example of Brexit, but just wait until Westminster cannot use the pandemic as an excuse for rising costs.

Paul Gillon
Baintown, Leven