Sir, – There has been a lot of talk of late about the issues surrounding Brexit.
As the fiasco staggers on, with the disastrous “no deal” scenario becoming more likely, a new, fairly simple, solution to what has seemed an intractable problem has now emerged.
During the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, it was made clear, by both Westminster and the EU, that, if Scotland voted to leave the UK, it would also be leaving the EU, because the UK is the member state.
Presuming that this principle still holds, would it not make sense for Brexit-voting England and Wales to leave the UK? They would then automatically be out of the EU, with no complications.
Scotland and Northern Ireland would remain, as they voted, in the EU as rump UK, with the Republic of Ireland, thus resolving the issue of the hard border in Ireland.
This would give the people of England and Wales what they voted for.
They would be free to control immigration, to strike deals around the world, and, as a bonus, they would be free of the economic burden of support for their poor Celtic neighbours.
This arrangement would also satisfy the “will of the people”, as recent opinion polls have shown that voters in England would be quite prepared to lose Scotland and Northern Ireland if it enabled them to secure Brexit.
Meanwhile, Scots, by a margin of two to one, would be willing to accept a hard border with England if that was what was required to stay in the EU.
So such an arrangement should meet the wishes of a majority of voters.
As an alternative to the looming hard Brexit, this would seem to be a very viable option.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Councillors are letting us down
Sir, – I write with regard to your article about parking fees in Kirriemuir and Angus (“Views on parking fees ‘will be considered’,” Courier, December 22).
Angus Macmillan Douglas is being economical with the facts.
Running a council relies on consensus from all parties and a council cannot function without agreement on a budget.
All councillors voted for the budget on the understanding there would be full consultation, to come to an informed decision before the introduction of car park charges.
An impact assessment on local businesses was refused, adequate costings on new technology and not old costings from decades ago were refused, a delay was asked for to help make a more informed decision and was refused, and a huge reduction in permit costs was also denied. SNP councillors recorded dissent when council was asked to approve the final plans.
The disappointing aspect of this is we have two Tory councillors in Kirriemuir,
The provost, Ronnie Proctor, who is proud to be Kirrie “ born and bred”, says the charges are here to stay.
Meanwhile, Macmillan Douglas, whose family’s coat of arms is on the Town Hall, says businesses in Kirriemuir are in favour of the charges and he is proud to be a Conservative.
This is not the time for party politics.
This is a local issue closing shops with jobs lost and they are not standing up for the constituents of Kirriemuir.
If they cannot represent the good folk of Kirriemuir on something as seriously damaging as this, they should reconsider their positions.
Jim Stewart.
3 Croft Terrace,
Kirriemuir.
MSP should have a word
Sir, – It was interesting to read in the Courier how my MSP, Mairi Gougeon, feels about the introduction of car parking charges in Angus (“MSP backs residents’ fight against meters”, Courier, December 20).
She is highly critical of Angus Council for this attempt to raise revenue and protect vital services.
Ms Gougeon should know as well as the rest of us do, that all councils in Scotland are being subjected to cuts in funding from the Scottish Government.
I wish Ms Gougeon was equally active in criticising the Scottish Government, in which she is a minister, over the damage they are doing to Angus Council’s budget.
If she were more vocal in defending the council which provides services to her constituents, her party might reconsider these funding cuts.
Angus Council might then be able to reconsider the need to raise money via car parking.
David May.
Evanston,
Lamondfauld Lane,
Hillside,
Montrose.
Lending a lie to an old adage
Sir, – Labour MP Fiona Onasanya has been found guilty of lying to avoid a speeding conviction and that decision prompted Labour to suspend her and urge her to stand down as an MP.
She is unlikely to do this voluntarily and lose her £77,379 salary.
Her failure to tell the truth led to an expensive police probe and court costs of £500,000 funded by taxpayers.
She returns to court in January to be sentenced and her conviction could result in a jail sentence of between four and 36 months.
If it is over 12 months then she would be disqualified from membership of the House of Commons.
If under 12 months she can remain as an independent MP and collect her £77,379 until the next election on May 5 2022 – a total of £258,000.
Who says crime doesn’t pay?
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
Corbyn may have got it right
Sir, – You can’t but in some sad way admire the hypocrisy of the Conservatives.
They completely ignore Scottish interests and the Scottish Government and, worst of all, the Scottish electorate.
If Brexit has proved one thing it is that Scotland is little more than a cash cow and as far as the Conservatives are concerned should remain firmly in its place.
The irony of it all is that after ignoring the elected government up here over Brexit, Mrs May then invites the first minister to Downing Street to ask for her support.
The arrogance and ignorance of her Conservative Party is quite astounding.
I am not an admirer of Jeremy Corbyn.
That said, perhaps his alleged remark which caused so much controversy at Westminster during the last Prime Minister’s Questions before the Christmas break wasn’t so wide of the mark.
Bryan Auchterlonie.
Bluebell Cottage,
Perth.
Precious little sign of fairness
Sir, – The French had a revolution many years ago caused by the disparity between the “haves” and the “have-nots” and now, each weekend, we see that country moving closer to a confrontational situation once again.
We do not, however, have to look over the English Channel to see gross disparity growing between rich and poor.
In fact we only need to look to the insanely high salaries and financial increases recently handed out, for example, to the senior BBC employees.
Ken MacQuarrie (once employed by BBC Scotland) now has a sickening annual salary of £325,000 after a 30% rise.
This was given while his committee was discussing the possibility of reintroducing the payment of the full television licence fee for old age pensioners.
The fact that he also claimed £30,000 in further expenses (the largest in the BBC) clearly shows that it truly is one law for the rich and another for poor pensioners.
You couldn’t really think up a better recipe for modern day social upheaval.
Archibald A Lawrie.
5 Church Wynd,
Kingskettle.
Coping with a cacophony
Sir, – Pinging, bleeping, clicking and ring tones, all invariably accompanied by flickering lights, LED lights and warning lights.
This is in addition to ambulance sirens, fire and police vehicle sirens, car alarms, house alarms and truck reversing alarms – all blasting away 24/7.
Is it surprising that the incidence of stress and depression is on the increase?
I wonder what say the health and safety authorities?
Kenneth Miln.
6 Swallow Gardens,
Union Street,
Monifieth.
