FORMER first minister Henry McLeish’s contributions to the debate on Scottish independence are usually interesting, even if he always falls short of giving his full support for it, whilst contemplating a dubious and woolly devo-max system carved in his own image. Like many other traditional Labour Party devotees, Mr McLeish, it seems, would like to debate alternatives to independence before grasping the nettle of full Scottish autonomy.

Though I respect his cautious approach, he should really consider that the people of Scotland cannot be tied any longer to a Union that is bent on self-destruction and plunging into an economic, social and political abyss.

READ MORE: Former Labour First Minister Henry McLeish says he would support independence

The present Conservative government with its mendacious buffoon of a Prime Minister and assorted charlatans is part of the case for a blessed release from the United Kingdom as soon as is practicable.

The many and varied hazards of a reckless and ideologically driven Brexit policy will afflict the UK economy for a generation at least. The libertarian drive towards a deregulated economy will witness an increased dilution in workers’ rights and a Conservative party motivated by a credo of social Darwinism will deliberately oversee the dismantling of the welfare state.

The internal market bill will cripple devolved parliaments and leave Scotland politically emasculated and, with the Labour Party lurching from crisis to crisis, at the mercy of successive Tory governments for the foreseeable future. By attaining independence we can reliably inform Mr McLeish that we would leave the antiquated first past the post electoral system far behind us, dump the anachronistic House of Lords and its freeloading inhabitants, and unceremoniously discard the monarchy, the ridiculous honours system and the selfish cronyism therein.

We could pursue a more ethical foreign policy and welfare system, remove nuclear weapons from Scottish soil, embark on a written constitution and examine the dream of a genuinely free press. In addition we can embrace our natural wealth and live the green dream, whilst applying for membership of the EU or EFTA. It’s never too late to commit Henry. What about it?

Owen Kelly
Stirling

WHAT do Sir Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson have in common? They personify the stagnant, dead end of the GB/ UK state. Two of a kind United in utter incompetence.

Boris Johnson has just U-turned yet again in the face of impending chaos self inflicted. Tory Brexit has been a disaster, compounded by incompetence across the whole Cabinet from top to bottom and lack of integrity. It was built on lies.

Sir Keir Starmer has no entitlement to representing Scotland as Labour only has one MP from Scotland, is equally hapless, perhaps even more so than Boris Johnson.

He has had open goals where he could have attacked, at this juncture he has been shown to be out of his depth, a bit mute in the face of the government’s self-inflicted bungling. But Sir Keir voted through the EU bill, too afraid to counter it. He too has shown his total lack of feel.

The idiocy and verbal buffoonery displayed by Boris Johnson in New York was an opportunity for Sir Keir to rise to the occasion, but no! His proposal to end one member one vote prior to Labour’s conference was a blunder and he has had to U-turn! He has angered his party. How long can the Tories thole Johnson after the latest U-turn on short term visas?

Two weak “leaders” in the English duopoly mirror the start of the end game in this Union. When one also factors in the antics of certain members of the Windsor dynasty, Andrew and Charles, then Britannia is truly keeling over in the waves, holed below the waterline.

John Edgar
Kilmaurs