Madam, – The last British minister I recall acting with indisputable honour and integrity was Lord Carrington, who resigned as Foreign Secretary to save his prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, at the start of the wholly unnecessary Falklands War.
His death at this time last year made it impossible not to compare him with the self-serving incompetents at present leading every one of Britain’s political parties.
But as a light in our darkness, a leader comes from South America prepared to take responsibility.
Instead of following the international political herd and blaming Donald Trump for scenes at the US-Mexico border, President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador dares to say the unsayable: “It’s our fault. We turned our country into the nightmare from which our people are understandably fleeing.”
With Honduras and Guatemala, El Salvador forms the “Northern Triangle”.
All three were racked by decades of civil war following by endemic corruption and gang violence and now provide half of all illegal immigrants to the US.
Until genuine patriots like Bukele emerge to take responsibility for things that only they can do at home, there’s no hope for the failed states of Africa and South America.
Rev Dr John Cameron,
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
The BBC and Wimbledon
Madam, – Noting the recent and continuing furore regarding the BBC and the loss of a free licence for the over-75s, and with Wimbledon now on, why do we have tennis on 3 channels, BBC1, BBC2 and BBC Scotland all at the same time?
Every time the telly is switched on, a message is shown advising a re-tune to allow full coverage of other matches taking place simultaneously via “The Red Button”.
Nobody, as far as I am aware, can watch all these matches at once on one screen, so have they run out of re-runs to show?
Geoff Bray,
Heather Croft,
Letham,
Forfar.
Confidence is the key for Scots
Madam, – Amidst the recent flurry of chaff from the Scotland in Union (SiU) regulars and their fellow travellers, the positive contribution from Les MacKay (“Scotland needs confidence to take control”, Letters, July 3) was a heartening relief.
His final paragraph especially outlines the options facing Scottish citizens at this time.
The continuation of this so-called union of equals, further asset stripping, impoverishment and mis-managed decline, or self-government with all the attendant benefits.
For the SiU letter writers, unionist politicians and London-centric media, any signs of burgeoning Scottish confidence must be suppressed.
With a state-run BBC Scotland in the vanguard, doling out it’s daily helping of teatime disinformation, the message is as repetitive as it is ridiculous.
We are, uniquely in this world, unable to fully govern ourselves.
Thankfully in a 21st Century replete with alternative media, other voices have found their place.
The trilogy of ‘Nation’ films produced by Phantom Power Films is one such example.
Available on-line, they feature the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway, showing Scots a future we can aspire to as a “too wee”, “too poor”, but obviously not “too stupid” country.
For over 300 years Scotland’s true potential has been strangled by a succession of self-serving London establishments.
We are citizens of a country blessed by an abundance of natural assets, with a population possessing all the talents needed to succeed in any endeavour.
We will shine.
All it takes, as Mr Mackay rightly states, is the confidence to do so.
Ken Clark,
15 Thorter Way,
Dundee.
SNP should show respect
Madam, – I see in The Courier’s Letters page today, July 3, the continuing opinion from Les Mackay, that “Westminster treats Scotland with contempt”.
Where is the evidence for that ?
If he means Westminster does not meekly roll over and accept all of the demands of the SNP, that is hardly contempt.
In fact, it is the action of a democratically elected UK Government, for which Scotland elected to be a part in 2014, whether Mr Mackay likes that outcome or not.
Matters might quieten down somewhat if, firstly, the SNP stayed within its brief as leader of a devolved assembly and ceased its constant grandstanding and interference in affairs beyond its competence.
Secondly, if the SNP representatives in Westminster adopted a more collegiate culture towards their reponsibilities as representatives of the Scottish people, and ceased the often arrogant, self-defeating behaviour practised by the SNP leader at Westminster, Mr Ian Blackford.
Worst of all, Mr Mackay fails to consider in his many letters of support for independence, the sheer complexity and costs of disassembling a Union that has existed for some 300 years that could very well result in the violent divisiveness that was seen in Northern Ireland so recently, where ideologues caused so much death and destruction and which resulted in enormous costs that could better have been incurred for the benefit of the people of Northern Ireland and the UK as a whole.
The majority of people of Northern Ireland wished to remain part of the UK, as did the people of Scotland in 2014.
Why cannot this decision be respected ?
Why are we constantly being asked to understand why this democratic decision should now be reversed ?
I have not myself, seen any reliable justification from the SNP or its supporters, that its emotional ambition for an independent Scotland can be supported by well researched facts and publication of the truth as opposed to aspiration.
Derek Farmer,
Knightsward Farm,
Anstruther.
Holding ourself to ransom
Madam, – The current shtick in British politics is that we must be prepared to ruin the country with a no-deal Brexit, in order to force the EU to consider negotiating a new deal: like a bank robber holding a gun to his own head and saying ‘give me the money’.
But the EU know, as does every realistic commentator, that leaving without a deal will have the UK back, within months, begging for a deal…any deal…on whatever terms the EU wishes to offer, with good will in short supply.
Yet political self interest, to the n’th degree, prevails, in both Conservative and Labour parties. A plague on both their houses.
Les Mackay,
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
Are Unionists afraid of debate?
Madam, – Why do so many see a citizens’ assembly as only having one intended outcome?
Yes it is an SNP initiative but do the non-independence promoters ever stop to consider the benefits? The whole point is to discuss what is best for our country, and a platform for people to produce informed reasoning on why their view is or may be best.
The standard of Unionist debate and argument to date is appallingly bad, being no more than ‘head in the sand no change’. If the Union is so good, what are they afraid of?
Nick Cole,
Balmacron Farmhouse,
Meigle,
Perthshire.
