THE true causes of the necessity for the December 12 General Election are to be found in the Tory party actions of David Cameron and Theresa May. The former attempted to placate his party, having bribed them with a promise of a referendum on the EU, and probably the most surprised person was Mr Cameron himself, who in his wildest dreams did not anticipate the decision of the people.

His claim to have negotiated reforms of the EU during his six months of effort, themselves mostly ineffectual if not irrelevant, together with his absolute assurance that he would remain in office irrespective of the referendum result, will be remembered as at best idle bombast, his resignation following in haste after the people’s verdict.

There ensued not the election but the elevation by the Tory party of Theresa May, who enjoyed a comfortable majority in the House and who proceeded to do precisely nothing for months to promote the will of the people of the UK. Her main interest was recognisable as her desire to reduce the Labour party in parliament to an irrelevance, the polls and no doubt her advisers providing the incentive if not evidence of her expected 2017 election result.

Again, she was doubtless and equally the most surprised of people to find her parliamentary majority gone and the predictions totally wrong. That gave birth to her government’s dependence on the DUP, at a cash price ignominiously arranged, for her continuation. She was not stirred to progress expeditiously the withdrawal from the EU as demanded by the people in 2016. Had she not held the 2017 election it is obvious that her 2018/19 deal with the EU would now be effective, secured by a majority she held prior to the 2017 election. Her departure was no less ignominious than that of David Cameron, both having simply walked away from the mayhem they had caused.

The chaos in which the Tory party and more regrettably the UK now are is the direct result of its incompetence in government. It is difficult to argue that the Westminster system is itself blameless, and to conclude that a radical change is in reality not necessary. Boris Johnson’s elevation due to a vote by Tory party members is an obvious repeat of that party’s undeserved position of influence and of the unfitness of Westminster.

The result in 2012 will be determined by the three parties that are traditionally the main three inhabiting Westminster. Their early pronouncements do nothing to suggest that any improvement in the system is being considered. A facile change of personnel or of rosette will not cover it! The process which spawned the above will be repeated, and the repetition of the ignoring of the devolved administrations’ concerns or proposals will continue ad infinitum.

Yet again there are, for example, no suggestions of joint discussion or consultation on any matter of government importance affecting “the whole of the UK”. Instead the emphasis will concentrate upon what each of the three imagine will be the magic carpet to electoral success. The naked truth is that each is promoting on the basis of party and very personal interest. That interest is regrettably to be determined by how England will vote – not a “partisan” viewpoint but a simple statement of the truth. The sovereignty of Westminster is the golden fleece being pursued by them, and no appreciation of how to avoid a future repetition of the aforementioned chaos is evident.

A wit once stated that when you are up to your **** in alligators the first requirement is to get out of the swamp! Scotland has been taught the hard lessons of being in the thrall of Westminster and NOW is the country’s chance to get out of that swamp.

J Hamilton
Bearsden