Sir, – The Courier letters page is full of references to “mandates”, yet the reality is straightforward.
Winning a parliamentary seat gives the victor a mandate to represent his or her constituents.
Winning a parliamentary majority gives the leader a mandate to form a government and exercise governmental powers.
However, the vote of the public in a single issue referendum must surely trump all of that.
So, Boris’s mandate to implement Brexit comes not from last Thursday but from the public vote in 2016, just as his mandate to preserve the UK comes from the public vote in 2014.
There’s no reason to believe the public view on either issue has shifted significantly, so there’s no need to re-run either referendum.
There seems to be an acceptance that Brexit will happen, as the public mandated.
It is unhelpful that, here in Scotland, the Yes side’s definition of referendum is something that should be re-run till the “right” result emerges.
Imagine how cup finals would operate in a separate Scotland.
Dave Dempsey.
7 Carlingnose Park,
North Queensferry.
Local legion must support Remembrance
Sir, – I would like to say I agree and support the comments of Davie Paton, chairman of Carnoustie branch and vice-chairman of the Royal British Legion Scotland (Change needed if legion is to live on, chief insists, Courier, December 17) .
More does need to be done to embrace change, however it must be constructive and beneficial.
It is not going to be an easy task to convince everyone.
For many years now the RBLS (Legion Scotland) has been expertly guided by past and current CEOs, including past national chairman Mr C Brown MBE and the current national chairman Mr M Hawthorn, and the entire national board of trustees and has dragged herself from the lower echelons to a highly respected veterans and services advocate.
But, regrettably, one major point has not been mentioned.
And that is the first point of the RBLS – before clubs, branches or drinking dens – that being the custodians to the Act of Remembrance.
Events of Remembrance are carried out across the UK, but here in Scotland we have no such event.
It is left to local areas to organise their own.
Here in Dundee we have probably the largest supported event in Scotland and yet the attendance of members in supporting this very prestigious event is very poor.
This is the fundamental reason for our existence.
I would say to the members of this area, if they were to show support I am more than sure the knock-on effects could prove to be beneficial to the clubs and branches, simply by getting back to the grass roots purpose for which the RBLS and legion exists.
If a branch can travel from the borders (Dalbeattie) to support us then those on our doorstep should be looking at themselves.
We were created not just as a social entity but as a body which holds the responsibility to ensure the Act of Remembrance for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice not just in WW1, WW2 or Korea but in every conflict and war where we have had our troops killed and maimed both mentally and physically.
Remember those words we recite so regularly. But do we pay attention to why we say them?
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”
The 2020 Festival of Remembrance will be held in the Caird Hall on October 31 2020.
Alastair W McLean.
Convener, Angus Perthshire and Fife Area.
Royal British Legion Scotland Festival of Remembrance,
43 Strathmore Street,
Broughty Ferry.
Legalisation not the answer
Sir, – Like many like-minded and well-meaning people, Dundee MPs Stewart Hosie and Chris Law seem to think the decriminalisation of drugs will solve the problem of addiction.
Transforming what is at present a criminal act into a legally acceptable one may well reduce the number of criminal convictions, but it certainly won’t reduce the number of addicts.
Despite what they may think has happened in Portugal, addiction is again on the rise in the 16-24 age groups.
Even the politicians are beginning to have second thoughts.
As for seeking the root cause of drug addiction, they won’t have far to look. It’s the availability of drugs.
Make a determined and persistent assault on the growers and suppliers of drugs and the problem of drug addiction will be solved.
But perhaps that would be too easy and straightforward.
George Dobbie.
51 Airlie Street,
Alyth.
More childish behaviour
Sir, – The results of the election north of the border won’t please everyone since the unionist parties clearly received more votes than the separatists.
I trust unionists will lose no opportunity to complain about it and campaign ceaselessly to overturn it.
The Union Jack should be flown from every available pole or draped over bridges and it is especially important that every negative event that occurs in Scotland be blamed on the separatists, regardless of the circumstances.
Torchlight processions will be held to demonstrate how we are “shackled”, “oppressed” and “treated with contempt”; how the “will of the unionist majority” is yet again ignored.
This childish behaviour will continue until we get our own way.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
Momentum completely gone
Sir, – Momentum and the Labour Party are, to paraphrase Oscar Wilde, the unspeakable in full pursuit of the unelectable.
Jo Swinson for prime minister? She would not even make captain of the lacrosse team.
David Burgess.
15 Balbirnie Road,
Glenrothes.
Time to accept the Tories lost
Sir, – Can you remind your political correspondent Jenny Hjul (Zealot behind the mask, Courier, December 18) that the Conservative Party in Scotland’s only policy was no to a second referendum, and they were soundly routed.
Once again she is displaying her overwhelming bias to talk up a party that Scots rejected in huge numbers.
It is time that Conservatives stop trying to spin that somehow this victory was some kind of one-off.
That’s three general elections the SNP have won in Scotland and it is now time to “get independence done”.
Bryan Auchterlonie.
Bluebell Cottage,
Perth.
No role in leadership
Sir, – Your correspondent, Ken Clark (Dancing to their own tune, Courier, December 17) incorrectly states I am ‘one of Scotland in Union’s two leaders’.
In bestowing this compliment, he misleads your readers. I have never co-led, nor now lead, Scotland in Union.
I certainly support the admirable work the organisation carries out, though it is not run by me but by Pamela Nash.
Martin Redfern.
Woodcroft Road,
Edinburgh.
