YOUR “Fleeced” front cover and its accompanying story (Farmers to lose £2bn in subsidies in wake of Brexit, The National September 18), was both timely and extremely serious, not only for farmers, but for the whole population of Scotland. It follows on from the disgraceful statement by Damian Green a few days ago that: “We [presumably meaning Westminster] need to make sure that we don’t have subsidy wars to try to help sheep farmers, some in Scotland, and some in Wales.”
It cannot be stressed too highly that this support for the farming system is not just a case of handing over cash to sheep farmers, it is the very life-blood that keeps the farming and crofting communities over a huge proportion of the Scottish landscape, so beloved of the visitors and tourists, alive and well.
I have been a hill sheep farmer on them there hills for more than 60 years and know only too well the highs and lows of trying to keep things profitable.
I must point out once again that if the Scottish farming industry is allowed to fail,a considerable proportion of the other businesses around the countryside will also close down. Corner shops, filling stations and all sorts of local businesses and suppliers are at very real risk.
It is totally dishonest and politically devious for the Theresa May government to try to retain the powers over these decisions in Whitehall, especially when the people handling them there have not the faintest knowledge of, nor interest in, the areas of expertise involved. It would, of course, fit in extremely well with the political desire to keep the Scots under the political thumb of London, and assist in returning large areas of our country to a state of wilderness so beloved of the hunting and shooting brigade.
This must not be allowed to happen. A lot of farming voters in some areas of Scotland have always cast their votes for Unionist parties for all sorts of reasons over a long number of years. A lot of them will now see that a different political landscape has opened up before us and that a new appraisal is required.
George M Mitchell
Dunblane
IT was immensely welcome to read the statement from the Scottish Government, reinforcing the right of the Catalan people to determine their own future.
The right of self-determination of peoples is outlined in the UN Charter, and yet despite this the Spanish government is doing all it can to prevent Catalonia holding a referendum on independence from Spain on October 1.
The decision over Catalonia’s future direction is a matter for the people who live there and of course the Catalan and Spanish governments are perfectly entitled to take positions for and against independence.
It is essential democracy and civil rights are respected in all countries but there is a growing clampdown by the Spanish state on the holding of a vote, most recently with the threatened arrest of 700 mayors for agreeing to facilitate voting. What we are witnessing here is an assault on democracy, not in South America or Africa, but in the very heart of Europe, actions which should provoke international outrage. Should the Spanish government succeed in preventing the Catalans from holding their referendum this will only serve to strengthen the hand of Theresa May and hard-line Unionists who would seek to prevent Scotland having a second referendum.
However, should the Catalans prove successful in holding this vote, in facing down the Spanish Government and securing a Yes vote, the impact on Scotland could prove monumental.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
THE difference between north-east Spain and northern Britain ... ? In north-east Spain a significant proportion of the electorate apparently wants to exist in a self-determined state of Catalonia, while in northern Britain a significant proportion of the electorate apparently wants to exist in a self-determined state of catatonia. Just a joke, really. No, actually, just a joke. Really.
Ian Duff
Inverness
CATALANS are preparing for their referendum on independence and their sovereignty is already under attack. If a referendum is democracy personified, then state force used against it is the tool of a totalitarian state. Franco lives on in the state of Spain!
Police and judicial action are being used against Catalunya’s decision to go to the people. That this is virtually absent from our national broadcaster and press must be a concern for us at home. The Catalonian people crave international reports of their situation. By omission, our national media follow the tune of our establishment that fears the expression of fairness.
Please, post your support, in whatever way possible, for our Catalonian friends as they approach their day of hope. They have shown their empathy for Scottish independence and we must let them know that this is reciprocated.
Peter Barjonas
Latheronwheel
AS Theresa May’s not so great Euro Interruptus, or European Withdrawal Bill, drones through Westminster, Scottish Government lawyers should be busy devising a similar bill for use by Holyrood should a majority of Scots vote Yes in a future referendum.
Bruce Moglia
Bridge of Weir
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here