I WRITE in reply to Alistair McLeish (Letters, The National, October 14), whose reference took me back to the early 1970s, Edinburgh. I was studying for a degree in history (mainly Scottish. I had been fortunate enough to attend a Glasgow girls’ school which had a history department which was very pro-Scottish history.) I also remember at school reading A Scot’s Quair, so Alistair is, like me, in his sixties?

How appropriate that I should see the Cheviot, the Stag and The Black Black Oil in its early production in the early 1970s. As I remember, the cast included a very young Alex Norton, John Bett, and Bill Paterson. It was stunning and innovative, performed in the round.

I also recall seeing Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaits, and someone may correct me, but I think Rikki Fulton was in it. He also was a straight actor occasionally. Another glorious piece of theatre. About two years ago my son took me to see a production of The Slab Boys (David Hayman) as a birthday surprise. I remember seeing it many years ago.

Nostalgia is a great spur; after reading Alex’s letter I googled “7:84”, and there are a few clips on YouTube. I actually was close to tears. I thought if someone has a full recording it could reveal to current voters, young and old, the duplicitous nature of our London masters. History repeats and repeats and repeats and we never learn.

Incidentally, can someone tell us the current figure? I suspect the 7:84 ratio is now even less favourable to the people of Scotland than it was all those years ago.

Wendy Wilson,
Drymen

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A no-deal Brexit will further split the fractured Union

HER Majesty’s Government are in a richt dwam noo! No further meetings are scheduled between EU and UK negotiators as Brexit talks run out of road.

So, what next? The UK is the leaver and has to fulfil first all requirements of the three agreed exit issues. It has shown itself inadequate, arrogant and sleekit in that undertaking, crowning its approach with the Chancellor, the most pro-EU member of the Cabinet, referring to the EU as “the enemy”!

The nadir has been reached. As the Westminster government descends into inner chaos with opposing factions calling for a cull of certain members, the UK Government has in effect isolated itself. Perhaps that has been the intention all along. Unable to think through and then formulate its points clearly and unambiguously on the three exit issues, it decided to “wing it”, adding a few “insults” en route, a true Westminster fudge hoping the EU would fill in the gaps or something might turn up. If not, blame the EU for not being “flexible” enough.

The ardent Brexiteers see the EU as a “monster”, so what is left? Either Theresa May is preparing to quit as PM or else she is going for broke and walking away with no deal. That will indeed cast the country adrift. As Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to Remain, the Union will come under further strain.

The indication that a cross-party alliance of MPs is aiming to have an amendment that allows MPs to vote against any no deal or bad deal and withdraw Brexit points up the recurring dilemma for No 10 and the country.

Obtaining a deal in the first instance after agreement on exiting is ultimately dependent on the EU! It also depends on the details, and the main Westminster parties still aim to be out of the single market and customs union. So even that would still be a “hard” Brexit.

Sections of Parliament, the media and other groupings in the UK have so bad-mouthed the EU that the EU could still simply walk away stating that total Brexit means Brexit and face the consequences. Or if it intends to accept the UK withdrawing Brexit and remaining, there are no guarantees it means for the UK a return to the status quo ante with its bespoke opt outs and rebates etc.

Whether the isolation will turn out to be splendid, one must doubt. The antics of No 10 do unwittingly send a signal to the wider world. Bluster from Cabinet ministers referring to past battles and victories glorifying past victories against the French and others does not build bridges. Our intention to give up membership of the EU grants the UK no favours in a future relationship. In today’s world after Brexit the UK has no “entitlement par excellence as a right” to get its own way!

John Edgar, 
Stewarton