Madam, – I have learned two new words this week.
The one everyone is aware of is “prorogue”, which essentially means “to do something legal and customary but which because it closes down an option for others, they throw their toys out of the pram about it.”
The other is an old Scots word, “whipmegorum”, which means, “a noisy quarrel about politics”.
Lets be clear about where we are at the moment. Everyone has said and heard all they are going to say and hear about Brexit now.
If you give politicians an additional five weeks to argue about this, they will fill the entire five weeks.
Will they come up with any solutions? No! The evidence we have is that this particular group of politicians are not gong to resolve this issue.
I didn’t vote for Brexit, but the worst case scenario is not leaving the EU or even leaving without a deal.
The worst case scenario is to stay where we are at the moment, in a land of confusion, where no-one knows what is going on, no-one knows what to do, and the longer it goes on, the more angry and disappointed people become.
Boris is not my cup of tea, but he is doing the only thing that a Prime Minister can do in the circumstances, which is to bring things to a head, confront the problems, and trust in his instincts that the issue is too important to both sides for a deal not to be agreed.
A general election is an essential part of the process, so that we can then all see who the general public support and who they do not.
We will then have a clearer direction of travel, and we can put this noisy quarrel behind us and move on.
Victor Clements,
Mamie’s Cottage,
Aberfeldy.
UK break-up is not ‘inevitable’
Madam, – Ruth Davidson handled her resignation with honesty, dignity and sure-footed aplomb, just as she has dealt with most matters during her time in politics, which is more than many politicians can say (‘Davidson stands down to put family first’, August 30).
Scotland owes her a great debt for among other things doing such an excellent job during the independence referendum campaign and subsequently standing up to continuing SNP attempts to convince us that breaking up the UK is “inevitable”.
In truth that wishful thinking on the part of the independence movement can only be turned into reality if a proper case is made for why we would be better off, in all the ways that matter, out of the UK rather than remaining in it.
Essential elements of the 2013 White Paper have now been thoroughly discredited, not just the economic case, but also the practicalities of how long it would take to negotiate a departure deal and set up the machinery of a separate state.
When, after the number of years that will take, an independent Scotland starts trying to get its affairs into good order, the SNP’s own Growth Commission has recognised it could take a decade or more of serious austerity to put our public finances onto a sustainable footing.
All of that will be possible, but at a great cost to us all, with, as is always the case, the most vulnerable suffering more in the process than others.
Ruth Davidson would not want anyone to give up on the UK, either because of how difficult Brexit is proving to be or because she now, understandably and rightly after many years of determined but at times gruelling effort, has her own new personal priorities.
There is nothing “inevitable” about what will unfold over the coming weeks and months.
I believe the majority will instead reserve judgement on many of the key issues until events have properly played out.
Keith Howell,
West Linton,
Peeblesshire.
Independence ‘pipe-dream’?
Madam, – I am reading the correspondence from your ardent supporter of Scotland’s Independence campaign, Mr Les Mackay (Letters, The Courier, August 30).
In his letter, Mr Mackay repeats the constitutional porky-pie that since Scotland did not vote for Brexit, Scotland should be excluded from the Brexit decision ie the usual SNP argument.
Sadly, Mr Mackay forgets that two years earlier, Scotland voted to remain within the UK and therefore is constitutionally required to recognise the UK majority decision on Brexit!
There is also the vexed issue that since Scotland, by itself, is not a current EU member state, there would be a lengthy examination of Scotland’s future economic potential and justification in an EU membership application.
If Scotland was to become independent today, where will the funding derive from to plug the lengthy application-process gap, since the UK Treasury will no longer have any obligation towards financial and economic support, and there is no guarantee that EU membership would be accepted?
In fact, the EC having had its financial fingers burned over the mistaken enlargement of the EU that incorporated several new members with poorly performing economies, there is a fair chance the EC would balk at allowing yet another small economy to join, without any track-record whatsoever on issues of governance and economic management.
The whole idea remains a pipe-dream in a world forced, these days, to take careful note of actual realities.
Derek Farmer,
Knightsward Farm,
Anstruther.
Negative impression
Madam, – The article in Thursday’s Courier regarding pupils smoking struck a chord.
Last week passing Monifieth High at 11.30 in the morning a group of five pupils were standing on the public path outside the Jannies house.
All were puffing away, spitting and swearing like troopers. They were also blocking the path and appeared reluctant to give way.
Apart from being surprised that in this day and age 16/17 year olds are still poisoning themselves it gave an extremely negative impression of the school.
You would also need to ask why were they having a smoke break at that time in the morning?
On a different topic, while I’m on this high horse, the total disregard of the 30mph on Balgillo Road is extremely dangerous.
I would suggest that eight/10 motorists trigger the electronic signs reminding them that it is a 30 zone.
Some I have seen have I would estimate are going 60mph or more.
Time for some positive action I would suggest.
Jim McCormack,
Braemar Gardens,
Broughty Ferry.
A country at ‘crisis point’
Madam, – What is the use of our head of state if she readily agreed to the prime minister’s idiotic suggestion to close parliament?
It is a desperate unconstitutional move to placate his right wing Brexit supporters, yet she agreed to it without hesitation.
We are now at crisis point.
Alister Rankin,
93 Whyterose Terrace,
Methil.