‘LABOUR, LibDems and the SNP need to put their differences to one side and build a coalition to stop the Tories at all costs” – a quote from a blogger in The Independent. One can understand the frustration at Westminster and beyond. The Lords is now complaining about the Commons being sidelined by secondary legislation and reserved powers by the present Tory No 10!

There is one flaw in the anguish. Labour and the LibDems in Scotland are not Tory-averse in that they support the Better Together line and are tacitly happy to see anti chaos emerge at the hands of Boris Johnson and his party so long as the Precious Union survives.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer see Scottish approval ratings 'hit record lows'

This is most evident in their silence over the power grab by the Tories where the devolved governments are being denied the ways and means to implement the powers devolved.

They also are not very assertive on more devolved powers either for the Parliament in Edinburgh to develop the country. The answer to that is simple and obvious. The SNP-Green government is the elected power in Holyrood. The “Unionist rump” parties do not accept the majority vote by the people in the country. In fact, they even deny the right of Holyrood and the Welsh Senedd the right to exist enshrined in a constitution.

The problems encountered at Westminster are not merely Tory-driven. The mishmash unwritten “constitution” which drives Westminster, the precedents, “rules”, conventions, arcane procedures and the present-day sleaze are all so embedded. They have been adhered to by the three Unionist parties, past and present, when in power. The system, as far as the increasing numbers of Scots voters are concerned, is beyond the pale. The incorporating Union is a de jure and de facto simply Greater England in reality, a fact that the Unionists here know but are too feart to admit. It is not a Union of equals.

The cries to create an alliance to throw the Tories out and “save” Westminster, means the Union still goes on. The problem is an English problem and it can only be solved by an independent England after it leaves the Union of 1707. It voted for the Tory mess, it got what it voted for – Johnson, Brexit and all the rest!

We will go our own independent way and can leave the English to sort their self-inflicted constitutional farrago by themselves. They would not want the Scots to have any say in that at all even if we remained in the Union.

Remember the English press headlines when they thundered at any possible coalition Labour government under Labour supported by the SNP! The implication was simple. British means English only! Let them “carry on” by themselves!

John Edgar

Kilmaurs

WE have endured two years of exposure of the utter unreliability of Prime Minister Johnson and his government followed by weeks of incompetence in the handling of the Owen Paterson scandal,

not just by Johnson but also the Leader of the House of Commons. The ever so self-righteous Jacob Rees-Mogg also had to waffle his way through an about-turn on the issue. Could it get worse? Oh yes it could, and at the annual conference of the Confederation of British Industry no less.

Any nervous rookie youngster on a speech-making platform need worry no more. A reflection on Johnson’s efforts before the CBI would settle nerves in an instant.

READ MORE: Ruth Davidson attacks Boris Johnson over 'disrespectful' CBI speech

An utter mess in himself, dishevelled in appearance, action and speech and making reference to Peppa Pig World, whatever that Is. Curiously his deputy Dominic Raab also seems to be familiar with the place. Surely no more sleaze as they promote a particular business which has certainly gained a profile, unheard of until Johnson spilt his beans – or everything but – on the CBI platform.

Yes the press, global no doubt, feasted on this disastrous week for the UK Prime Minister and of course the state broadcaster the BBC had to be seen to be doing its fair share of coverage as indeed they did.

Alas, there is invariably a knock-back as an attempt to level the score, deflect from the severity and cast thoughts elsewhere.

I only bring this up as was confused on Wednesday evening when BBC six o’clock newsreader Huw Edwards introduced an interview with Nicola Sturgeon by Laura Kuenssberg. Sniping away like a terrier at heels, I failed to see where this was going. Then followed the inimitable Sarah Smith with her special slant on degradation of Scotland’s leader. Not to be beaten, BBC Scotland followed with equally piercing Glenn Campbell.

Still wondering what these three were on about and why the issue, whatever it was, was aired. I have to ask, why oh why, if not to distract from the utter chaos that is UK politics?

No doubt Unionist viewers were enthralled and delighted to witness this release from their depths of despair after two years of their self-elected wrecking ball. A deliberate distraction if ever there was! However, some – me included – note the BBC screen some admirable productions. A counterbalance is a useful tool in maintaining distraction!

Some will say don’t watch the BBC and don’t pay your licence fee. Wrong! You won’t win a battle of hearts and minds if you don’t understand the weapons at their disposal and what the enemy is feeding their minds.

Tom Gray

Braco

I’M sorry to respond negatively to one of my favourite columnists (Lesley Riddoch), but the BBC is not “crumbling” (Andrew Marr’s departure says a lot about the crumbling state of the BBC, Nov 24). Rather it is rumbling relentlessly towards becoming a Foxish right-wing populist entity in faithful step with its leader Boris eh ah eh Johnson.

Thom Cross

Carluke