THERE is more than one way of looking at the outcome from Thursday’s vote.
Yes, it’s a reality check and harsh wake-up call to Scottish National Party and Alba, however, it’s a comfort compared to challenges facing leadership of Labour Party in Scotland. They have their own baby to take care of!
Recall Anas Sarwar and his bleating, almost every week in Holyrood, at the alleged failings of our health, housing, education and other public services including the dualling of the A9. Add those failings due to limited finances for resources required to bring the same services into the 21st century down south, and the red in Glasgow could be yellow again by 2026, as neither any more cash nor attention will be allocated up here by Labour down south as they fiddle about trying to put planning on a fast track and reboot the economy having earlier given the whole UK perhaps the greatest public finance error of them all.
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Their foolhardy building of public buildings under the grossly expensive never-ending private finance initiatives has resulted in many schools, health service buildings, housing complexes etc down south being in an appalling state and screaming for resources to repair them.
It is indeed galling to watch as opposition parties decry the same public service issues week after week at FMQs in Holyrood.
However, be assured they will now do so in full knowledge that they face a far greater challenge in finding resources to fix their own errors, preferably without further blatant plundering of Scotland’s resources.
Time now for pro-independence minds to stop pleading to Westminster for assent to our gaining independence, and instead focus on gaining it from whatever international body is appropriate, the German Tourist Board if all else fails.
Tom Gray
Braco
“ATTENTION. Eyes right” a sergeant major would bark at a line-up of soldiers on the parade ground as an officer approached. It could now apply to European politics.
The headline of David Pratt’s article in the Sunday National reads “The ominous resurgence of Europe’s far right”. To much cheering in the political ranks, David Cameron in Westminster and Nigel Farage in Strasburg marched the UK out of the EU in triumph. Control of Britain’s taxation was taken out of Brussels and put in the hands of the country’s wealthy brigade. One major benefit to Scotland, the Common Agricultural Policy, didn’t count.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer blasted as he gives expenses scandal MP plum job and peerage
Europe’s pending move to the right may see the break-up of a union that has brought its members peace and stability since 1945.
A new Labour government! Really? Stand to attention. As always, political millionaires will be taking the salute in the interests of their suitable taxation arrangements. Come November, those who’ve just voted Labour should rethink their views and realise that a fairer taxation system for all would be the policy of an independent Scotland.
Iain R Thomson
Strathglass
I HAVE gotten a little behind with reading the Sunday papers and have only just read Ruth Wishart’s article “Tartan Army’s enthusiasm is infectious but perhaps not wedded to reality” in ‘the Sunday National’s Seven Days from June 23. The main reason for being behind is that I was in Munich that weekend.
Actually, the headline isn’t wedded to reality. In my experience, the Tartan Army travels in hope rather than expectation. We seldom expect to win and are aware of our position in the world rankings. We do live in the real world. However, we do like to enjoy ourselves.
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Also, I did take exception to Ruth’s take on happenings in Marienplatz Square in Munich. “They [the Tartan Army] had taken Marienplatz Square during the day with some ease, the German fans knowing better than to mingle with a crowd of blue-shirted Scots, some of whom were no strangers to the local beer gardens in Munich.” This is nonsense. I was in the Square. There were lots of German fans and much fraternisation. I was there with two of my (middle-aged) sons and we spent almost an hour chatting – and sharing beer with – two German families. We spoke about football, families and even world affairs. With hindsight, it was the highlight of the trip.
I normally enjoy Ruth’s articles but this wasn’t her finest.
Douglas Morton
Lanark
IT was People Make Glasgow, now it seems:
Genocide support makes Glasgow
Anti-immigration makes Glasgow
Pro-Trident makes Glasgow
Austerity makes Glasgow
Brexit makes Glasgow.
Extraordinary change, did Glasgow not notice what Labour stand for?
Brian Powell
St Andrews
TOO Wee? No. Too Poor? Definitely not. Too stupid? Much harder to deny.
Andrew M Fraser
Inverness
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