GORDON Brown appears to have regrets over devolution, commenting that the Labour Party made an error in granting devolution in Scotland and his party was naive not to have realised that it could create “a megaphone for intensifying resentment” (Brown says Union could be over within a decade, November 19).
Brown’s rhetoric in the article appears to endorse devolution as more worthy when it comes to the rest of the UK showing grievance and a “revolt of the regions” being a “game-changer”, referring to the “much-respected English mayors” then naming them individually. Presumably his lack of reference to Scotland and our FM indicates that devolution for Scotland was less important in the overall scheme than the English regions and Nicola Sturgeon by inference was not “much respected”.
His words are rather empty vessels as when in power, Labour failed to implement any of his suggestions or improve the lives of Scots – instead enriching and empowering the South East of England at the expense of all points north of the Watford gap by all means of wealth creation for the already rich and powerful.
READ MORE: Gordon Brown says now is not the time for indyref2
The Tories do not stand alone at this table. Labour’s lack of concern for Scots and Scotland, abusing our votes purely as a means to shore up their power in an English Parliament with no acknowledgement or respect of who put them there, has been repaid by Scots respecting their voting power and enfranchising the SNP, a party that speaks for the people of Scotland.
Christine Smith
Troon
ONCE again Gordon Brown waxes lyrical to deny Scots their fundamental democratic right to determine their future (No indyref until country heals from coronavirus says Brown, November 16). He claims the virus and the resulting recession should be healed before any referendum should be held. How so?
Has it stopped Brexit, which is infinitely more damaging? No, that journey to devastation is marching on relentlessly, the very imperative for Scots to deal with the independence issue as soon as possible.
No doubt every Scot has their own reason for Scotland to be independent. Having voted to remain last time, my journey to common sense has been a short one, triggered by the lies those like Gordon Brown told us in 2014 – which he hasn’t apologised for. So why should we heed anything this failed former unelected prime minister says now?
On Jeremy Vine, Robert Rinder – the eminent barrister known on TV as Judge Rinder – tells us that for most people in our community, justice is out of reach, citing family law, civil law and even the reductions government have made in legal aid for criminal cases, unless we can garner the assistance of hard-pressed support organisations who do have limited access through the charity-giving they depend on.
However, the real scandal is that without full access to the law through being unable to afford it, we in the UK who believe that we have human rights in fact don’t. Human rights only exist for those with the wealth to buy them.
For me, I want to live in a democratic country with a clear written constitution detailing my fundamental rights and obligations, and access to the legal system to ensure that these rights are upheld.
Sorry, Gordon Brown. These important imperatives can wait for no man or disease. We need to be building the new Scotland now. Not some airy-fairy time in the future because politicians like you are doing what they always do when the argument is against them – buying time.
Let’s get independence done. Now!
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
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