CAN I, as a Scottish voter, offer my congratulations to Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill for creating something of a stushie and getting themselves flung out of that morbidly stupid place that serves as the lower house of the British parliamentary system. I am sure that a lot of readers will wish to join me in this.
To go to that place as a member from Scotland and expect to be treated with any level of respect is a fantasy. I would suggest it is long overdue that our large number of SNP MPs get themselves organised into a properly co-ordinated group and ensure at least one of their number creates a disturbance and gets thrown out of the dismal evil place every single day. Let’s have a regular “Carson” happening. After all Ireland didn’t do so badly, they have been independent for a hundred years.
I would also add that the loss of his temper by Mr Speaker indicated a person who is obviously completely unfit for that position.
George M Mitchell
Sheriffmuir, Dunblane.
ABBI Garton-Crosbie’s article in The National on Thursday on the chaos as Alba MPs were kicked out of the Commons shows how their behaviour has become the subject of discussion instead of the much more important contents of their letter to the Prime Minister.
The shambles that ensued in the chamber after they defied the Speaker, when he lost control and became involved in a shouting match with numerous MPs, made excruciating viewing for anyone who still respects civilised debate in Parliament; although perhaps it was a fitting finale to Boris Johnson’s tenure.
If this was an indication of how Alba MSPs might have conducted their campaign in Holyrood to “bring urgency into the timetable for delivering independence to Scotland” it is fortunate that the SNP decided to keep its distance from the newly-formed Alba Party.
John Jamieson
South Queensferry
WHILE acknowledging that the proceedings of the UK Parliament have little positive impact on my life and aspirations, I tuned into PMQs in anticipation of another episode of the ongoing Tory cannibal fest.
The interruption to the first question seems to have registered more with Abbi Garton-Crosbie than it did with me. “Chaos” is to overstate the hiatus which I suggest was more of a mildly annoying amusement and food for the braying Tories. I could not hear what was being shouted by anyone other than the Speaker and it was over in seconds.
I believe that this brief stushie had, and will have, no effect on the cause of our independence although some may be turned off by the noise.
On the other hand, Ian Blackford’s regular re-statement of the wishes of the Scots, expressed in election after election, was heard, albeit with the usual background noise, and his hope that the new Tory frontperson would be as popular as Johnson was both apposite and amusing.
Archie Drummond
Tillicoultry
NOW that Keir Starmer has, disgracefully, accepted Brexit as a done deal, Anas Sarwar is up the Kelvin without a paddle. Labour’s chances of winning a General Election without a decent number of Scottish MPs are minimal (always have been) and in any case the Tories will turf them out sooner rather than later.
The SNP are not going to lose their powerful appeal for Scottish voters anytime soon. Labour has an excellent chance of forming a Scottish Government in, say, a couple of years after Independence Day – the Scots being naturally left-leaning, social-democratic inclined – but that will only happen if they vote Yes in a referendum.
The SNP will benefit from a refreshing break from the stresses of government then anyway.
England must find its own way to evict the Tories – admittedly a tough task, that country having turned rather unpleasantly Conservative (it’s Brexit and immigration wot done it) – but those determined to fight for decency in public life and fairness for the underprivileged will surely take comfort from having a friend over the Border.
David Roche
Blairgowrie
THE cruise missile strikes on Vinnytsia, launched by a Russian submarine, were the latest incidents to take civilian lives and fan international outrage since President Vladimir Putin launched the invasion on February 24.
Isn’t this indicative of the political depravity of Putin’s Russia?
What does it take to press a button and send death and destruction to unprotected innocent civilians just going about their peaceful and lawful daily business? What kind of “hero” commits such war crime atrocity?
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He’s getting away with it because of the fear he’s instilled in Russian citizens and also he is sufficiently lunatic that he would press the nuclear button.
What will be the Poland catalyst to bring realisation that it is urgent to stop Putin before the unthinkable happens?
Whatever it takes he must not be allowed to prevail.
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
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