THE empire state is on the verge of collapse. No, I’m not talking about the one that still stands majestically in New York, but the Empire State Gerry Hassan referred to in The National (Day of reckoning approaching for UK’s problematic empire state, Apr 5).
Geographically, what remains of the United Kingdom on the world map must be one of the smallest collections of individual countries in the world. Where on the old school wall world maps, the British Empire was coloured in red, it is now difficult to see anywhere in red other than the UK. Countries like Australia, New Zealand, and Canada are all independent of the UK, only retaining the Queen as head of state.
Soon enough, the size of the UK will lose its red definition leaving England alone, as the remains of the crumbling empire state continues to collapse with Scotland leading the way. Scotland will define itself without the false input from Westminster. It has its own wealth. It has its own successfully developed technological know-how. It has its own educational capacity with some of the best universities in the world. It retains its own legal responsibility.
READ MORE: Day of reckoning approaching for UK’s problematic empire state
But most of all, it has the growing willpower to achieve its independence through the power of the people who remain sovereign to its government, unlike Westminster government which is sovereign over its people. It might be said that Scotland has been a nation before other nations were thought about. It has always been independent, even when undemocratically treating with England in 1707. A Treaty that has been broken many times by successive Westminster governments, and never designed to benefit Scotland.
Scotland and its government now has the wherewithal to press forward with its own constitution towards its independence within the next 18 months. Before the first quarter of 2022 is out, we should begin to see our country grow as a successful new country. Let us all look forward and march again for independence.
Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife
I COULDN’T believe my eyes when I read the article “SPFL may have VAR by Christmas” by Anthony Brown (Apr 5). I had to do a double-take on the date, thinking it was an April Fool’s Day joke.
The SPFL used an “under-14s match” to determine the future of VAR in Scottish football? Are they having a laugh? VAR is already in use and if the SPFL DON’T introduce it right now, Scottish football will become the laughing stock of the worldwide game. If it is NOT introduced then Fifa will eventually and ultimately force the use of VAR by instructing the SFA and SPFL “blazers” to get real.
Is this the highest level of professional management the SPFL and SFA can reach?
READ MORE: SPFL clubs to vote on introduction of VAR into Premiership this month
Anyone above the age of 10 knows VAR needs to be introduced and especially in Scotland, where referees stroll through a match in cavalier fashion caring not a jot about the outcome because they either don’t want or don’t have the ability to apply the rules of the game.
It’s not VAR that needs to be introduced into the game in Scotland, it’s a new football management structure! Remove the SFA and SPFL “blazers” NOW and the game will immediately improve.
What a joke our great footballing nation has become! The inmates really have taken over the asylum. I would laugh if it wasn’t so sad to watch, knowing there is absolutely nothing I or anyone else can do about it. The supporters don’t get to vote these jokers into office so they are, in effect, immune from any form of accountability. It’s been like that from as far back as I can remember when Clydebank FC controlled the game, Ernie Walker, his nephew and market gardener Jim Farry, right up to the current incumbents, one self-interested incompetent after another killing the game in Scotland.
Jim Todd
Cumbernauld
I’M aware I watch Chris Jack intently in your newspaper, as his reporting of the Rangers is often very biased and one-sided. His comment page on Thursday was full and reasonably accurate, but I couldn’t believe when analysing his team and the derby match no utterances were made to the broken glass, the Celtic member of staff who had to have stitches after a bottle attack, and the many instances of coins thrown at Celtic players! Now I’m not maintaining Celtic fans are saints, but this reached a new horrendous low on Sunday which should have been outed by Jack.
D Gill
Kinross
I ALWAYS buy two Nationals on a Monday because George Kerevan offers such sound political analysis and so I keep one and give one away. Let me demonstrate the sharpness of his profundity by quoting his final paragraph in last week’s essay: “Independence is about taking power in Scotland, or it is about nothing. After 15 years of havering (I would have preferred dithering), the SNP has to start exercising that power or face a rising tide of despondency and the possible disintegration of the national movement. Independence is at a crossroads. Use the power, Nicola, or lose it.”
Thom Cross
Carluke
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