BORIS Johnson is running an authoritarian regime with a benign and jovial face, and some voters seem to believe him. Oh, he’s just our kind leader who got ambushed with a cake, he never sanctioned any parties during the lockdowns under his watch – while people were unable to say goodbye to loved ones or hold their hands, or to see their loved ones.
Anyway, it’s all a great distraction, this Partygate. Are Russian troops on the Ukraine border a distraction from what’s really going on at Westminster? Does no-one hold this lying, corrupt, wasteful and deceitful government to account? Slipping in under the radar are new acts of parliament to limit the rights to protest, to restrict voting rights, amnesty for Northern Ireland prosecutions, preventing immigration, destruction of devolved powers for the three nations (or remaining territories), limiting basic human rights under a new British Bill of Rights and destroying businesses with trade restrictions under an unwanted Brexit (which is severing our longstanding links to Europe.)
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The new frontiers are Australian apparently, half way across the world. Our ties to Europe are much longer and deeper and much closer! Global Britain is now going to return to the glory days of empire. The trouble is, empires don’t bring success anymore. Its the small, independent, nimble nations that are among the most successful in today’s fast-changing economies.
This is the worst UK Government in living memory. And the Brexiteer project, which is some kind of fabricated Global Britain brand or rather Anglo-British nationalism, is hard to understand. Its highly populist and artificial, and full of trite slogans that some believe but many view as totally meaningless. Underneath it all Westminster is centralising, over-spending and sucking from rUK while they glibly talk of “levelling up”, whatever that means.
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This present UK Government lacks any moral compass and are pursuing the destruction of our basic human rights.
The Britain brand does have soft power across the world, so why are they dismantling the BBC? Is this part of wanting to emulate the many flaws of America with its commercial broadcasting – where there are hundreds of channels and nothing to watch?
I keep thinking that if Nicola Sturgeon had been having parties at Bute House while telling people to stay at home, the Unionist press would be calling for blood! Last week in Ukraine Johnson did a press conference when he said: “After the fall of the Berlin Wall anyone can choose their sovereign destiny – which is a fantastic thing!” BUT just not Scotland though!
P Keightley
Glasgow
BEWARE of Chancers bearing “gifts” from No 11. The delivery mode of Sunak in the Commons, and “laughter” and hilarity from his cronies as they listened to criticism from the opposition on the paltry measures he was proposing, is a portent of things to come should he succeed Johnson.
It comes as he, who is supposed to have the guiding hand on the economy, without a hint of irony was “announcing” in fact the tightening of belts without any admittance of blame for past sloppy performance. No indication of concern from a moneyed man of means about the plight of those on Universal Credit after cuts had been delivered and sanctions reimposed.
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The positioning of this aloof, quietly haughty and insensitive supporter of Johnson’s measures and actions to date as a possible successor is a warning indeed.
A man of his background, upbringing and temperament is not attuned to the needs of people at this time. He simply will compound the disasters of the last two years. Just another clone in the Brexiteer mould! Just another Tory on the make.
John Edgar
Kilmaurs
IS it not hypocritical of of Westminster’s resident clown to accept five resignations of his staff before the police have interviewed them? Just saying like!
Steve Cunningham
Aberdeen
CONSULTATION according to Michael Gove.
During the “levelling up” statement in parliament he was asked by Deidre Brock what consultation there had been with the Scottish Government.
His reply was brief and to the point – "I phoned the First Minister last night."
That sums up Westminster and the Union – after the paper is produced (with some copying from Wikipedia) and as an afterthought – better phone Scotland and tell them. Their contempt for Scotland knows no bounds.
Winifred McCartney
Paisley
AS a Govanite I quite like the idea of bringing the House of Lords to Glasgow. Lord Landin Windie of Stairheid.
Jim Arthur
via email
AT last some good news from Auntie. I am happy to hear that James Cook is to replace Sarah Smith as BBC Scotland editor. He is the only journalist who gained my respect in the 2014 referendum and was a loss to Scotland being detached to the USA. Here’s hoping he can become BBC Scotland’s Eddie Mair, who told Boris Johnson he was a nasty piece of work live on air!
Talking of Bojo, do you think he’ll be the first Prime Minister to leave Number 10 in a Black Maria?
Kenny Burnett
Dyce
SO DRoss wants to know how Nicola will cut the bottom off the classroom doors. Eez simples – same way she cuts the feet off DRoss every time he opens his gub.
M Ross
Aviemore
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