IN the 18th century, during the era of exploration, Royal Navy ships frequently found themselves beset by curious, and potentially hostile, natives.
It was the custom, on those occasions, to “set the ship’s boys capering” on the foredeck. This involved young sailors dancing and waving their arms about with a view to impressing the natives, thereby convincing them of the power of the Union.
How very like the antics of UK ministers popping up in Scotland on day trips, Rishi Sunak being the latest to be sent north. Capering is the only word for it.
Keith Halley
Dalkeith
READ MORE: Ferry row as Chancellor Rishi Sunak makes trip to Isle of Bute
ISN’T Rishi Sunak telling us that now is not the time to discuss Scottish independence the clearest indication of how the UK campaign is failing?
For some inexplicable reason, Westminster seems to believe that our independence is something that is in their power to give, rather than the sovereign right of Scots to take back. This is redolent of the UK’s stance with every territory that chose to secede from Westminster domination.
What part of “Scotland is part of the UK union only as long as we wish to be” doesn’t the UK Government understand?
READ MORE: What Rishi Sunak said about Scotland's 'choice' of Brexit or indyref2
The Act of Union was a treaty of union between the sovereign Scottish government and England, albeit democratically flawed as it was, and is capable of being rescinded should we decide it should be.
The message to the UK Government therefore is: we Scots will decide if and when. The message to the Scottish Government has to be, get on with it. Then Scots can decide, and get on with building a better nation.
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
SO former public school head boy, Oxford graduate, economist and hedge fund manager Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak seems to have changed his mind about “allowing” indyref2, and people wonder why. Simple. Now he has actually seen the UK balance sheet!
Les Hunter
Lanark
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