IN the week where the crisis in eastern Europe is expected to reach its peak, Boris Johnson took time off the global stage to tour the country trying to save his job.
It is little wonder that the meetings between the UK and Russia are tense, with Ben Wallace comparing the negotiations with the appeasement in Europe that preceded the Second World War and Liz Truss not exactly sure where Russia’s troops are located.
(After her meeting with Sergei Lavrov, the British Embassy issued clarification from Liz Truss, stating: “During the meeting, it seemed to me that minister Lavrov was talking about a part of Ukraine [Donetsk and Luhansk]. I have clearly indicated that these regions [Rostov and Voronezh] are part of sovereign Russia.”)
READ MORE: Is Putin repeating mistakes of the past with a huge tactical error?
The close relationship between the US and shambolic UK Government combined with the post-Brexit emergence on the international stage of the poorly prepared UK team must be causing serious concern to the negotiators from the EU, Ukraine and Russia.
Perhaps the Prime Minister consigning the UK to the sidelines during this critical week will prove to be more of a help than a hindrance to those trying to resolve the current crisis in Eastern Europe.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
ALL things now being said of Johnson are truths that the majority of Scotland’s citizens have always suspected.
Of all that we are now witnessing of the Johnson chaos, what effect will it have on our struggle for independence?
Will it now bring to our cause those who up until now had an undecided position? When our campaign gets under way, we shall know the answer.
I have never been fully attached to the view that Johnson is our best recruiter for independence.
Yes, his everyday actions help us, but that in itself will not be enough. It will be the Scotland-wide strength of our campaign which will be the decisive factor.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson says Scottish independence is 'just not going to happen'
Johnson’s removal, whichever way it comes, will be a major blow to the British establishment and they will do all in their power to minimise the damage.
Although whoever follows Johnson may be of similar character or worse, we should not underestimate the momentousness of any Prime Minister’s removal, especially one with almost total control of government and its effect on the psyche and thinking of the general public.
We can not as yet fully assess how it will influence Scotland’s drive for a referendum. We do not know what its consequences will be or the changes it will create. In life, change is the only constant. It cannot be predicted the form that any change will take.
As regards the referendum/independence campaign, below are some of my personal views.
There will be a big majority support for Yes from working people, particularly amongst its elements suffering hardship or poverty resulting from Westminster policies.
Young people who in the main are not afraid of change and challenge will embrace the idea of self-determination that independence offers.
READ MORE: John Bercow in blistering Sky News rant against 'worst PM' Boris Johnson
Students who now understand the restrictiveness of Brexit and whose studies are in the realm of ideas, if given strong arguments or vision and hope, can be won for Yes.
Those in all the diverse areas of the arts are surely observing the insulting and disdainful attitude with which Scotland is being treated by Westminster. Will they express their concern and give voice to support for independence?
What now is the thinking of those Tories or Unionists in the academic world? Could they now be considering declaring for independence as other of their colleagues have done?
Our middle-class No voters of 2014 who are now facing the prospect of lower living standards, are they now looking favourably at independence?
Bobby Brennan
Glasgow
THE Establishment idea of justice – buy yourself out of trouble. Of course you have some sympathy for Prince Andrew’s family and particularly the Queen, but what has happened is not justice, it is the age-old “money talks” for the privileged few and very rich.
READ MORE: Prince Andrew reaches out-of-court settlement with Virginia Giuffre in US civil sex case
Andrew is of course not the only one to be doing that at the moment. Still, he does not accept blame. Funny paying millions of pounds to someone you have never met – that is what he told us. He regrets his friendship with Epstein – so he blames someone else for his actions. I don’t remember him saying Epstein held a gun at his head.
He was quite happy to be in this circle of depravity while the going was good.
Winifred McCartney
Paisley
THERE is much chatter of a post-Queen Elizabeth order. Her successor must be installed under a wholly different regime. It is time that regal rule was limited by abandoning almost all constitutional linkages. I am no republican, but there must be major alterations to the role and function of the monarch.
Essentially the core duties should be ceremonial, devoid of constitutional activities: no red boxes, no signing off new laws, no parliamentary duties. Non-constitutional monarchies are fairly common in the 21st century. No longer should our legislators be sworn in under an oath that states “I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen, her heirs and successors”. Time to change for King Charles. Independence planning should include at least a non-constitutional monarchy.
Thom Cross
Carluke
GET rid of the whole stinking Windsor family. The people of Scotland are sovereign in Scotland.
Bernard Stewart
via thenational.scot
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