IT was with some interest that I noted the First Minister of Scotland’s reference to the late HRH Queen Elizabeth as a “constant,” and started to consider just how such a “constant” view evolved over some seven decades.

The first three of those decades were periods of post-WW2 profound change within the UK with increased social mobility and economic rebuilding. The last four decades, however, became more dominated by the return of the economic elite, and subsequent economic entitlement, enabling ever greater austerity being applied to those regarded as part of the great unwashed non-elite.

Still, what was to be expected for the UK over the last decade was rule by a constitutional “constant,” enduring political convention, basic political integrity, basic political honesty, determination of governing law by the Supreme Court judges, new but mature statute led by elected members and revised by unelected members, and then signed off by the “constant".

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To state the obvious, the “constant” is now dead, political convention is dead, basic political integrity is dead, basic political honesty is dead, statute is poorly drafted and mendacious, revision of statute is undertaken by the unelected who have been installed by a Prime Minister regarded by many as an incontinent liar. What’s left is a Supreme Court which is attacked as an enemy of the state by a media run by and for the benefit of the economic elite.

Scotland has had some respite with a somewhat devolved Scottish Government, but is now faced with the swirling sewage of a critically broken UK political system, trying to run untrammelled by democracy, with no written constitution, a supportive elite-run media, and now no “constant.”

The UK press also now appears to be trying to purvey the view that a near-death, discredited, fundamentally dishonest UK political democracy, near-death UK economic system, with a dead “constant,” has resulted in a drop in the demand for an independent Scotland as an EU nation state, with a written constitution, bespoke currency, and fully elected government.

The UK elite, and their government, have clearly already moved on, now that the potential for acclaimed “constant” intervention has passed, and the Scottish SNP/Green government must now also move on, especially as the UK Government shifts into neoliberal overdrive, and they effectively put Holyrood under unwritten, untransparent and unconventional, economic blockade.

Stephen Tingle
Greater Glasgow

I HAD a father who was a staunch republican, and listening to him I also become one. The feeling of my elder brother and three older sisters towards royalty was one of indifference. My mother had mixed affection as her father was a Tory voter.

In 1953 when I was 11, a family in Craigpark Drive, Dennistoun held a coronation party in the WMCA hall there. As far as we children were mostly concerned it was a good reason for free ginger beer, buns and sweeties, because there was still rationing.

I doubt they will be having one in my old street for Charlie the third. There certainly won’t be one in Castlemilk where I now stay.

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Anyway, I digress from the main reason for my letter. It was Steph Paton’s fine article that made me think how, when the obvious is staring you in the face, you don’t see it (This is not a period of mourning, it is one of myth making, Sep 12).

I wondered at the inconsistency whereby cricket and I think rugby went ahead, but not Scotland’s Musselburgh racing and football. I had put it down to the fact that the first two were mainly upper-class sports. Steph’s opinion was right on the button. There was a danger that it might (especially football, for the reason Steph gives) upset the narrative and framing that was being presented by the establishment and its media that there was united grief and sense of loss throughout Great Britain at the passing of their Queen. Which of course was not the reality.

Bobby Brennan
Glasgow

THE former Liverpool and Rangers manager Grahame Souness has expressed an opinion on Celtic fans expressing their disapproval of the hype and pro-monarchy hysteria over the Queen’s mourning period.

He has the right to his opinion – doesn’t he accept others too have the right to their opinions?

No-one has been killed, maimed or personally attacked, yet he states that Celtic are the unacceptable face of world football. Similar to the outburst of the Speaker of the House of Commons when he asserted the funeral was the biggest event ever in the history of the world.

He is either blind to the hypocrisy or deep down is an eccentric royalist. Celtic fans weren’t the only ones who showed dissent. It is alleged Dundee Utd fans were attacked at Ibrox for showing contempt of the proceedings, yet little is made of it.

Souness has shown his colours regarding free expression and speech. Celtic fans forced the establishment onto the back foot and showed subservience has no place in today’s society.

David Gill
via email