SO Theresa May’s sole ally, now that she has taken a leap from the EU into the unknown “global trade nirvana”, is unleashing his modus operandi. The MSM is buzzing about threats against other states, humiliating heads of states and allies per telephone and tweets, his acolytes in the evolving administration – such as Bannon – refer openly to wars with China and in the Middle East, giving “notice” to Iran, and Trump talks about the US military sorting out “bad hombres” in Mexico.
In the US, what might be termed “purges” of officials in the departments of state at the top and in the diplomatic service are ongoing in order to drain the swamp.
What is more disconcerting is the tone and demeanour of the persons and their utterances. They are angry, haughty, bitter, offensive and aggressive. They display a distorted world view which takes cues from the Bush era of “We create our own reality” but worse.
The naïve said Trump would mellow in office, his campaign slogans and policy intentions were stage rhetoric with histrionics added for effect! But they are not. Early indications show they are policy intentions which take form daily under the rubric of making American great and putting America first.
One is reminded of an earlier publication, Mein Kampf, whose author was another figure prone to outbursts, histrionics, spouting defiance and anger, stated outrageous and inconceivable intentions which were turned into actions when in power. When he was in power, the so-called “chancellor in chains”, who would be checked by the other right-wing parties, he used his absolute powers of decree to purge opponents.
How Theresa May and her Brexit admirers of Trump and Co really view the current events in the US is an unknown, but if they imagine the special relationship makes the UK Government immune from Trump’s erratic reactions and outbursts, they need to pause and reflect.
Trump has so far treated friends and neighbours with disdain and condescension in his first two weeks. One needs to be wary.
John Edgar, Blackford, Auchterarder
THE size of the petition against Trump’s state visit is remarkable, but I’m uncomfortable about the reason given for refusing it – almost two million UK residents have signed in order to protect the Queen from Mr Trump’s misogyny and vulgarity. I would have preferred to sign a petition protecting all of us and our neighbours worldwide from Trump’s misogyny, vulgarity, xenophobic racism, Islamophobia, homophobia, and the rest of a long list!
Derek Ball, Bearsden
“INFAMY! infamy! they’ve all got it in for me’. A line from one of the true great films in history, Carry On Cleo, I think it was. Being retired, I had the luxury, if that is the right word of watching a fair amount of the debate on the triggering of Article 50. It was clear from the start that this would not be derailed. However, what I was not prepared for was the apparent contempt that the SNP MPs are held in.
Never has it been more obvious that the views of these MPs are simply disregarded. They are frequently met with boos and hostility especially from the Conservative benches, and more often than not they stick to the party line of “you have had your referendum and the people of Scotland voted to remain in the the Union” conveniently ignoring the fact that Scotland was told that the only way to stay in the EU was to vote No.
Well Scotland did just that and we now find ourselves being taken out of Europe even though over 60 per cent of Scotland voted to remain.
I also have to mention the apparent animosity that Mr Speaker, John Bercow has for SNP MPs, frequently chastising or rebuking them while allowing the other benches to shout down Scotland’s representatives when speaking, Mr Mundell excepted of course.
I have never been an admirer of Ken Clarke but I thought that his speech spoke volumes and the analogy of Alice in Wonderland to the Government’s approach to Brexit was pretty accurate.
The result was a foregone conclusion with only a smattering of other parties’ MPs voting against. My thoughts on viewing the debate for the last two days was maybe not Alice in Wonderland maybe more Carry on up the Kyber ...
Hector MacLean, Glasgow
ALEA iacta est, the Rubicon has been crossed – only one formality remains and we are out of the European Union. As soon as the Article 50 Notice arrives on the desk of the President we are two years from leaving. It is not known at this stage if the EU will begin negotiating a new deal in parallel with the leaving negotiations. Refusal to do so could mean many more years of negotiation before a new trading deal is struck.
MPs seem not to realise that once triggered, the leaving process cannot be stopped or reversed. They have had their chance to halt it and failed miserably as the Remainers failed to expose the lies told by the Leavers and by the right-wing press during the EU referendum.
Mike Underwood, Linlithgow
IS there any truth in the rumour that Jeremy Corbyn is booked to appear in pantomime as “Wishy Washy” after demonstrating such admirable expertise in washing his hands of Brexit and throwing in the towel?
James Stevenson Auchterarder I WAS delighted to see the Banana Flats in Edinburgh be given listed building status (Trainspotting’s Banana flats gain A-listed status, The National, Fenbruary 2).
Referenced in Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting, Cables Wynd House in Leith now has the A-listed status that puts them in the same category as Holyrood Palace.
Neighbouring Linksview House has also been upgraded, protecting the buildings against alteration and the demolition man.
Some people will say that such protection for buildings that many would see as ugly is odd. Indeed your article mentions that they characterise the New Brutalism, and we traditionally associate the idea of listed building status with attractive older buildings.
However people should understand that the listed building system is not just about preserving the pretty, the quaint and the ancient. It aims to ensure there are examples of all sorts of architecture left standing for future generations to seem, however unattractive aesthetically they may seem to to contemporary taste.
So yes, great news these ugly lumps have been preserved. And even better that they are in Edinburgh.
John Macanenay, Glasgow
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