I HAVE just worked my way through Saturday’s issue of The National, and I would suggest that this is one of your best issues of recent times, in that it has a very wide and comprehensive coverage of all the miserable events that have beset us over the last few days.
Where do we go from here? The obvious main topic has of course to be the dreaded Brexit. So, on Monday, the Letwyn proposals come back to the House of Commons to have another go at rescuing us all before April 12.
In the absence of actually cancelling Article 50 and getting on with life, it seems that the eventual outcome should be to attain some form of continuance of the relationship with the EU which would keep us within the borders of the trading relationship.
This would have the plus point of making it impossible for the UK to be dragged into a toxic new trade agreement with the USA; it would of course infuriate the hard-right Tories, which could be bonus. It would, however, bring a worthwhile advantage: it would take out of the equation, relating to a future independent Scotland, the question of the need for a border control arrangement with England, which would certainly be latched on to with great glee by the Unionist brigade.
The other very important topic is of course the currency. It is absolutely vital that the planning for this goes ahead, with the reality of all being ready to launch, I would suggest, no later than around three years after the achievement of independence.
Any attempt to have a meaningful victory while envisaging the continued use of sterling for a long period of time must surely be as likely to achieve failure as was the case in 2014. Remember the political set-up in Westminster, whatever it is, is likely to do everything in its power to cause failure for an independent Scotland; unless of course the English political system implodes in the meantime.
The latter might of course just happen should Prime Minister May be so stupid as to try and bring her discredited “settlement” back for a fourth “meaningful(!)” vote.
Oh, and can we all cheer on the excellent Alyn Smith when and if the European elections come around in a few weeks’ time.
George M Mitchell
Dunblane
MAY has told us repeatedly that we have had our independence referendum and that “This is not the time” for another. Yet she has now had three “meaningful” votes on her stillborn “deal” which have been overwhelmingly routed and, wait for it, she wants a fourth!
This woman has a dislocated relationship with reality which is driving the country to disaster and the voters to distraction. Given the malicious and contemptuous way her ragbag of popinjay braying asses has treated Scotland and its representatives, anyone who lives in Scotland and votes for the Tories should think shame.
Joe Cowan
Balmedie
IT appears that, speaker Bercow willing, we may have a fourth vote on Mrs May’s discredited Brexit deal. MPs are being blackmailed into accepting her withdrawal agreement or ending with a hard Brexit. No matter what the Tories say, that is not democracy. Our MPs are free to change their minds, but the British people are not. We must have either a second vote or a General Election.
Pete Rowberry
Duns
AS the UK Conservative Party tears itself to pieces, and parliamentary procedure collapses in disarray, a man in the Kremlin looks quietly on, as his friends in the Labour Party position themselves for elected power. They will quickly run out of money of course, and then he can quietly come to the rescue. Control of Britain ... what a coup!
Malcolm Parkin
Kinross
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