WELL there we have it, from the Tory UK Government cry of “get Brexit done” the mantra now appears to be “get Covid done” and move on. This was confirmed by our tousle-haired, cavalier PM announcing that England was ending its “long national hibernation”, with lockdown rapidly easing.
This is against the advice of independent health professionals, at home and around the world, who warn of the “real risk” of a second wave of coronavirus. However for the sake of all the peoples of the UK I fervently hope this will not happen.
READ MORE: Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer's botched attempt at strongman politics
As a new kind of normality arises, the meaningless intransigence of Westminster should accept that a Union, freely entered into by two sovereign nations, commands mutual respect, with either member able to withdraw if a majority of its people decide.
With separate legal systems and with very different views on Europe and the world, it is now up to the people of Scotland, alone, to decide their destiny. This democratic right is growing in Scotland as polls to date have risen to more than 54% for independence, and with several strong mandates already in place for indyref 2, an independent Scotland is inevitable with or without the permission of London.
Grant Frazer
Newtonmore
I BELIEVE closure of the Border is an absolute necessity to avoid a second, disastrous spike.
Many have said closure of the Border is not possible under devolution, however we have a precedent with minimum alcohol pricing, whereby it succeeded due to being presented as a health matter. This is even more so. On that basis, only essential traffic should be permitted, until England’s situation is similar to Scotland’s.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon suggests border controls will be considered
Further, many people consider Johnson and Cummings to be incompetent. I disagree. They favoured herd immunity, and have so far culled the old, saving a fortune in pensions and future healthcare costs. They succeeded in that aim. Now they have sent mixed messages, and can now blame the general population for a new spike, making Pontius Pilate appear an amateur.
Additionally, they cannot permit Scotland to continue to have far fewer per capita deaths than England. Consequently they will treat us as expendable, and to enable that will encourage holidaying here.
What will we do about it?
Mick McCready
Milngavie
I AM still reeling from the scattergun of Roddy McLean’s attack (Letters, June 26). And I really don’t know what to say.
If “closing the Border” doesn’t mean “closing the Border” then I have no argument. Words have no meaning and reality doesn’t exist.
READ MORE: Here’s what is actually meant by ‘closing the Border’
If Mr McLean wants to regulate Border crossings then he should say so, rather than hide behind a lazy inexactitude. Now all he has to do is to convince his son-in-law that his journey time to and from work should take an hour longer.
Wouldn’t it be simpler to have clear notices on the motorways and let the police trace vehicle registrations online and issue on-the-spot fines?
By the way, my motive is to convince my neighbours of the desirability of independence.
Ian Richmond
Springfield
I WAS interested to see the letter from Donald Anderson (June 27) about selling the Scots Independent in Glasgow, and I remember putting out leaflets for him when he stood as the local SNP candidate in Woodside ward.
The late Unity Millar and I did much the same in the Springburn area, along with one or two others, hoping to start a branch in that area. We used to leave the money in the Three Bells and it was collected later along with the Alba Pools, a raffle for which we also sold tickets. This was run by Angus MacGillveray from West Lothian, which at that time kept the party going financially.
READ MORE: Article about Scots Independent was a blast from the past
Unity was a character and was prominent in Glasgow and helped Alan Niven, who was chair of Glasgow Area Council. She got the nickname of “Disunity”.
Another person who was also involved was Robert Halliday of Rutherglen, always kilted, who covered the city centre daily and sold more than 1,000 copies a month – it was his life. I used to meet him occasionally in city pubs and remember he once fell into an old pub fireplace, knocking himself out, and when he woke up the first thing he said was “Where are my SIs?”!
He also had the nickname of The Scottish Soldier as at any ceilidhs – including the Braco Inn during the Perth and Kinross by-election to elect Lord Douglas Home as Prime Minister (less his title, which he got back later) – he always sang that song made popular by Andy Stewart.
As matter of interest, after demob I joined the SNP in 1948, at the headquarters at 59 Elmbank Street where the West branch met, chaired by the Rev Alistair MacDonald of the Free Kirk, who went on to become one of the editors of the SI. I was given the job of “SI Convenor”, a committee post many of the branches had at that time.
Hamish MacQueen
Glasgow
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