SUPPORTERS of Scottish independence and the SNP are often attacked by British Unionists as being narrow nationalists as opposed to the “internationalism” of the British Labour Party. So it is interesting to read recent tweets from British Labour MP Ian Murray stating that former Catalan Minister Clara Ponsati should be sent back to Spain to be tried for alleged rebellion and sedition.
It does not surprise me that Mr Murray is so supportive of the increasingly fascist actions of the Spanish Government, who want to jail anyone who disagrees with them. If the Labour Party’s “internationalism” is to show blind allegiance to fascist states then they are welcome to it – though I suspect many of their members will be disgusted by the remarks of Ian Murray.
I’m also sure many people who believed the comments of the Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy before the Scottish independence referendum will now be concerned that they could so easily be fooled by a politician who is clearly leading Spain into fascism.
Cllr Kenny MacLaren
Paisley
I CAN’T be the only reader who is amazed at the indifference shown by most British media news outlets, such as the BBC, regarding the undemocratic shenanigans that are taking place in Spain against Catalan separatists and the quest by a good proportion of the population to break away from a disrespectful Spanish Government that has a past “black history” of dealing with Catalan opposition. Swap the name Catalonia for Gibraltar and the same people would not be joining the shameful European reticence that is clearly evident regarding this Spanish repression and would be screaming from the rafters!
I think this famous quote by Edmund Burke epitomises the situation in Europe regarding Spain/Catalonia: “For evil to flourish, it’s only necessary for good men to do nothing”! I certainly don’t regard Puigdemont and his followers as evil people and I despair watching such political inaction to the way the Rajoy government is conducting itself. I also hope the German judiciary release Puigdemont and dismiss this political request for extradition, with the words “unfair trial” predominant in the judgment. I hope other countries, including Scotland, do likewise under a banner of democracy and justice.
B Jacks
Edinburgh
CAN some of your correspondents make their minds up? They don’t want the EU to have power to intervene in the affairs of its constituent members but they want the EU to interfere in the affairs of its constituent members.
Which is it?
David McEwan Hill
Sandbank, Argyll
SOME time ago I had a letter published in The National in which I expressed the hope that Scotland’s leading politicians were making preparations for a possible constitutional crisis if our First Minister calls for a second independence referendum and Westminster refuses to accept its legality.
Having given the matter considerable thought, I suggest that the Scottish Parliament, as our democratically elected leadership, should, in advance, organise a National Declaration of the Sovereignty of the Scottish People. This historic document would be comparable with the Arbroath Declaration of 1320 and the National Covenant of 1638 and would send a clear and unmistakable message to Westminster and to the world that, in accordance with the United Nations charter, the people of Scotland have the right to determine their own form of government without the permission of the UK Parliament or any other body.
Billy Scobie
Alexandria
CAN hardly wait until Thursday, when the Prime Minister is to spend a whole day visiting the various parts of the UK on a mission to “strengthen Britain’s bonds as a nation” by “bringing the benefits of Brexit to every part of the UK”.
No doubt her message will reach a pre-booked, heavily guarded, closed-to-the-public village hall or two where a carefully selected audience will be prompted to ask pre-arranged questions and applaud vacuous replies – as happened at the last General Election, when the PM touched base with what Michael Fry suggests is the “billionaire bit of Banchory” in a fleeting visit.
Children, if allowed to be present, will be issued with plastic Union flags which will feature strongly in an obsequious, uncritical report on the evening news schedules. The likelihood of public access or any form of interrogation is highly unlikely and, as it would appear that much is yet to be resolved in Brexit negotiation, there will not be a great deal to report in the short time allocated.
Ken MacColl
Oban
MICHAEL Fry reminds us of some of the many fatuous comments uttered endlessly by our not-so-revered leader from Number Ten (Here’s what you can expect from May’s visit to Scotland, The National, March 27).
Recently, re-reading the history of the attempts of her predecessors in office to bring stability to the Middle East after the colossal mess they had made of it following the First World War, I found that her much over-used slogan of “strong and stable government” wasn’t even original. It was first invented in the 1920s by one of Westminster’s minions who was sent out to the Arabian area to knock it into shape for the vested interests of those involved, who of course knew what was best for all the indigenous peoples of the area. Not a lot changes!
George M Mitchell
Dunblane
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