IT may be time to revisit the point I made in my letter of March 6 regarding Brexit and xenophobia. I relied on the medical mantra regarding pus and the need to “let it out”.
The surge of the Brexit Party in the opinion polls and the near certain demise of the Conservative and Labour parties suggest that xenophobia is alive and well and is expecting to rule the world or, at least the European and English parts of it. The abscess has certainly been diagnosed and the boil lanced, all that being an excellent first step, but a complete cure with return to a healthy society is going to take a long time.
The European election tomorrow will perhaps give a reasonable progress report on the patient, but much depends on the turnout at the polling booths. Turnout is difficult to interpret scientifically, even for psephologists, and results in lots of theories (for theories read excuses) from bad weather to protest vote, even providing devils, and there are plenty of them, to interpret (political) scripture.
I hope to be proved wrong on both the progress of xenophobia and low turnout, as possibly suggested by the figures quoted by George Kerevan in Monday’s National viz 62% in 1979 and 43% in 2014. Optimism (except for Scottish independence) is a rare commodity in our household these days. As the commentators say, “don’t hold your breath”.
Robert Mac Lachlan
Foulden
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel