CONGRATS to Kevin McKenna for getting his piece about compassionate Tories published 17 days after the April fool date it should have been (Thank god for the compassionate Tories – finally a party that cares, April 18). Surely most, like me, guffawed to the point of apoplexy at his comedic skill.
Seriously, his piece reminded me precisely why I support independence for my Scotland.
Because my premise is simple. It is about the style of government I believe an independent Scotland could deliver: a caring, egalitarian administration in our Scottish tradition of fairness for all, and the sense of “we’re a’ Jock Tamson’s bairns” community that Margaret Thatcher eschewed by rejecting any notion of society, which succeeding generations of her followers have enthusiastically trumpeted.
Examples like the rape clause, sending our bombers into harm’s way without recourse to full international diplomacy while ignoring the guidance and authority of the United Nations, the whipping up of the immigration witch-hunt that has led to the appalling Windrush scandal and those Europeans who have invested their lives, wealth and futures in Scotland being hamstrung and threatened with deportation, bring international embarrassing shame to Westminster’s style of government.
Add to this Scotland being ignored over Brexit and our Scottish Secretary being posted missing by his deliberate exclusion from the Brexit decision-taking process although it will impact Scots severely, along with our worthless Scottish Tory MPs whose only “talent” is to place the interest of British Tory diktat before the needs of the Scots they’re supposed to represent, and it becomes patently clear that the British model highlights how we have no real determination of our own interests and affairs.
While I agree that independence may best be won through a positive message for Scotland’s economic ability to thrive in the future, perhaps the real incentive for independence for me personally is finally ending the various hues of Tory doctrine, from whichever party, that ignores equal partnership for the UK Union’s nations in favour of the preservation of Westminster’s politically selfish autocratic dogma.
So thanks again, Kevin. For highlighting precisely the imperative for Scottish affairs to be fully in the control of all those who live, work, contribute taxes and are otherwise welcome stakeholders in Scotland.
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
WHAT sort of minds live in the bodies of these modern Tories? The rape clause is a diabolical part of a nasty bill that again attacks the poor whilst having no effect whatsoever on the rich. Add this to the Bedroom Tax, the Universal Credit fiasco and the demonisation of immigrants and we are on the way to the creation of a sick society.
After the Second World War, history indicates that “country first, party second, and self third” was the moral guidance which motivated MPs. Sometime between then and now this moral authority has been reversed. Unfortunately, the new position seems to permeate society. But wasn’t it Mrs. Thatcher who said “there is no such thing as society”.
Mike Underwood
Linlithgow
IT seems nonsensical to me to decry a conservative for being a conservative. Would anyone say a dog should behave like a cat? No, of course not.
Conservative MPs are elected to conserve the present economic and political system. They shouldn’t be criticised for playing the system to their maximum advantage. It is in place to permit those with capital so to do.
If the population wishes for a fairer system for all, they should vote for politicians who are motivated to introduce one. Politicians for whom personal gain is not a consideration. There are not many about.
Geoff Naylor
Winchester
I WAS delighted to read today of your kind words on Willie Douglas, together of those from the First Minister.
Willie had exactly the same name as the the young lad who on May 2, 1568 helped the Queen to escape from Loch Leven Castle by stealing the keys while everyone was in a drunken sleep after a very large meal. On the boat trip across the loch he threw the keys into the loch, while everyone in the castle could only watch as they were locked in. It was 1804 before they were found again.
I had a standard joke with Willie Douglas. Almost every time I met him I would say in jest, “have you found the keys yet?”
Willie was lovely man who will be missed terribly by the nationalist movement. Queen Mary sadly lost the battle of Langside shortly after this and escaped to England,where she was incarcerated for the rest of her life by Elizabeth I of England.
Alan Clayton
Strachur, Argyll
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