THE continuing arrogance of Tory MPs goes beyond the pale on a daily basis just because they have an apparent indestructible 80-plus majority, and a leader who has set the precedent for ignoring parliamentary traditions and standards of behaviour.

Boris Johnson will go down in history (literally) as being the UK Prime Minister who destroyed the so-called “mother of parliaments” of all its long-held traditions, rules and regulations up to the point of becoming a breaker of laws created during his own premiership.

His ministerial team have all fallen in behind him with their own felonies where ministerial behaviour is concerned. Now, it is the turn of his back benches.

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Neil Parish has been identified as the member accused by several colleagues of watching pornography on his mobile during parliamentary business in the House of Commons.

The aforementioned arrogance of the Tory membership is shown with Neil Parish initially refusing to step down and resign his position as a parliamentarian. Only if the appropriate people, the Independent Complaints and Grievance Scheme and/or the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, found him guilty would he concede, he said. The sheer arrogance of this farmer turned MP is beyond comprehension when he was actually seen to be watching pornography on his mobile.

However, it is now the case that his local Conservative party has seen sense and applied the appropriate pressure. Neil Parish has at last resigned his position in parliament. His constituency, Tiverton and Honiton, decided quite rightly that the shame he has brought upon his supporters was too much to tolerate.

No doubt a by-election will follow, and soon!

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

WITH Boris Johnson’s chaotic reign nearing its end, I urge people to vote SNP in Thursday’s council elections. However, please be assured that the SNP is completely focused on all local issues, while continuing to consolidate the campaign for independence.

It’s because of the public contempt for this Prime Minister that local elections have become a poll on national politics.

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In condemning his conduct, Scotland’s future must be in Scotland’s hands.

As the cost-of-living crisis unfolds from an utterly discredited UK Government, reject all Unionist parties, especially the Conservatives and indeed some of the so-called independents,who condone this corrupt Brexit Britain; all off which is being imposed on the people of Scotland against their will.

Grant Frazer
Newtonmore

A SENIOR Labour MSP declares “nobody speaks like” Billy Kay did in Holyrood last week. A fellow comrade concurs. “See that Billy Kay, Ah mean, naebodie speaks like thon. Whit a numpty! Noo oor nixt Prime Minister – whit’s his name – Sir Stammer. Ye hae tae say – he reads nice. Mind, Ah’m no that fond o oor leader in the Holyrood. He souns like he’s been up hauf the nicht learnin his speech aff bi hert. An when he pynts his finger thon wey, ye ken he’s been practisin in front o the mirror.

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“Ay! The’r no monie in Embra kin read like Sir Stumer – Ah mean – Sir Stourmer. An ma wee lassie cums in singin “Dinnae say dinnae” an Ah’m thinkin she’s takkin the mickey, wi me ayewis sayin that tae hir. But it turns oot she’s learnt the song in the school. They should be learnin tae read like the heir tae oor ain Keir Hardy.”

Reid Moffat
Fawkirk

THANK you Billy Kay! I spent 35 years working in England, mostly trying to moderate my speech so that I could be understood. Now, 24 years back home, I find myself automatically coming out with words I’d forgotten I knew, and it feels good.

Talking of childhood when we’d dreep doon the harbour walls, of myself feeling peely-wally, of getting a wee minding for a relative I don’t see often, getting drookit in a downpour.

It’s not much, but I feel at home with it.

Catriona Grigg
Embo

ANENT the current discussion in The National about language, I was reminded about an insolent Labour Lord who criticised the accent of one of the commentators during the Olympic Games. I found her perfectly understandable, and far preferable to the exaggerated accent of a Rees-Mogg.

After many years in Scotland my ear is accustomed to Scots, and I hope the leid becomes spoken more widely. I’ve done my bit in promoting it, having addressed the haggis a few times.

I hope Rabbie was not birling in his grave!

Although a hopeless linguist myself, I would like to think that Gaelic will become the everyday language of Scotland eventually. After all, its use was widespread before the Union, even here in the Borders. But like in many other places Britain conquered, it was stamped out by agents of the UK Government, and sadly by compliant Scottish teachers who should have known better.

Lang may yer lum reek.

Richard Walthew
Duns

I FIND it difficult tae screive in ma leid, but cin haud awa’ in Doric gin a pucklie o cratur, an a bit proper craic wi ma kith n kin.

However I tend to use English in my day-to-day life, and that is fine, but no language is intrinsically better than any other except for practicality.

I wish I had more Scots and Gaelic in my education growing up.

Ron Smith
via thenational.scot