THERE’S a perfect maelstrom forming in and around the UK at the moment, and sadly, like it or not, we’re part of it.

Leadership, both political and royally inherited, is lacking in quality, whilst the quantity, at least for the politicians, is photo-op occasions. The royals at least know when to batten down the hatches, even to the degree of disappearing within the Balmoral bolt hole.

To have the brass neck that the PM has and is so proudly showing in the USA currently is staggering. Standing there, lecturing about obligations and assisting less well-off, less developed nations when the UK’s aid bill has been slashed is more than staggering. It’s his way of diverting attention away from failure to the “look at me, instead: the great leader” attitude that he constantly has to fall back on, because he constantly over proffers and under provides.

However, the “chutzpah” of being prepared to further alienate our near neighbours economically where it hurts, by midwifing AUKUS, is so short-sighted. What does it say not only to those neighbours across the EU with the trading opportunities we require and should be working to re-establish, but to Canada and New Zealand?

Both have Pacific Rim interests, ranging from trade to climate and environmental, as well as the type of mother-country ties that seem to be flavour of the month here. Both countries got dumped in the past, as rUK realigned itself to Europe.

The message must surely be, “you’re (still) too wee to be of any interest to us”! A salient lesson in how not to win friends and influence people and their politics, but will the PM care to remember? Doubtful. He will in the meantime do the smoke and mirrors claiming a potential trade deal with the USA, Mexico and Canada is the intended stop-gap before the prized bilateral deal with USA.

What a gamble to take, that China will forgive and forget, that the USA and Australia will need the PM and little Britain in the future, for the likes of our trade, our nuclear bases, our world-stage standing and clout, our proven track record, honouring pacts and treaties with fellow nation-states’ leaders.

Well, that’s what’s scrawled across the PM’s brass neck! To him and his cohorts, it’s the message that rUK is open for business, but in reality, we’re being sold off cheaply with little or no regards to people and the dire circumstances so many are facing. National Insurance tax increases, Universal Credit being cut back, a lack of specialised drivers and workers, doubtful energy supplies and – despite a cap – increased bills on the horizons. And who in rUK has the political guts to mention the Brexit word? No one.

The nations of the world, if they’re at all still interested in the UK, will be wondering from afar. Ireland must be holding its breath, just so close geographically but with attendant political undercurrents becoming more apparent across their island. The EU must be considering what will happen once this island fractures.

And here? We can neither afford to stand still, nor hold our breath. We need to begin to define the strategies, the tactics, leadership/s (?) for our restless Indy movement.
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

JEREMY Paxman’s assertion that English voters should have a vote on Scottish independence (Jeremy Paxman says he would vote for Scottish independence) reminded me of a recent conversation with some English friends.

They too suggested a say in the vote. It was put to me that they should be able to vote to keep Scotland if they wished. I had just exclaimed “KEEP?” when my wife elbowed me in the ribs and probably averted an international incident.
James Harvey
Kirkintilloch

OH what superb news, the return of the imperial system.

Being born in 1951, I’ve never got the hang of the metric system. My weight is in stones and pounds etc, my height feet and inches. But returning to 1973, what great news, an election manifesto sensation. Imagine a pint (if my mind serves me right) for 1 shilling and 10 pence, 2 shillings and 6 pence at most... His advisers have come up with a winner here! Bring it on Boris. Nicola would be hard placed to match that! A return to 1973, what a great idea. But of course some of the more miserable amongst us would still wait for the “happy hour”!
Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus

THERE is no energy crisis. What there is is a crisis in capitalism.

The bulk of our natural gas supply comes from the North Sea. It belongs to everyone but has been appropriated by the few who have artificially inflated the price.

Smaller entrepreneurs took advantage of lax regulations to cream off a quick profit but have now decided to close their companies now that they can no longer make a quick buck.

The real losers are those gullible fools who believed in Tory promises.
Ian Richmond
Springfield

I SEE Muriel Gray is stepping down as chairwoman of Glasgow School of Art. Well, well.

The National:

Setting aside the unbelievable demise of the building itself, may I point out the following equally dreadful and deep-seated problem which seems very much alive and well, and most likely set to continue and flourish.

I quote from Professor Dugald Cameron, director of Glasgow School of Art in 1999. It gives an indication how long this problem has existed.

He was writing about the late, great Chuck Mitchell who taught there: “Memories of Chuck are the best antidote to the managerialism which currently afflicts higher education like a malign virus.”

Says it all. I was privileged to be a student there at a time when this did not exist.
Ethyl Smith
Via email