Nicola’s mission just latest act in SNP pantomime
IT would appear that nicola Sturgeon’s latest mission is to attempt to keep Scotland in the EU, in spite of the fact that Scotland is not actually a member state at present.
Her visit to Brussels last month can only be described as unremarkable in that she failed to get a meeting with the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk. He regarded such a meeting as inappropriate since Scotland is still an integral part of the UK.
Miss Sturgeon did, however, manage to meet the Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, but his position is far from safe in that he is under pressure to resign.
It is so obvious to any clearthinking persons what her true objective in this latest pantomime is – it is simply another ruse in the SnP’s constant quest to achieve independence.
She should cast her mind back to 2014 when 55 per cent of the Scottish electorate voted to remain in the UK. In the more recent Holyrood parliamentary election, although 46 per cent of the electorate voted for SnP candidates, it was on record that 54 per cent voted for the Unionist parties. nothing much has changed since 2014 and she knows that.
As we all recall, the White Paper produced by Alex Salmond, nicola Sturgeon, et al, of the SnP prior to the independence referendum, proved to be almost farcical. Their economic predictions were inaccurate.
When Miss Sturgeon is drawing up her plans for another independence referendum she should also remember that 65 per cent of Scotland’s trade, amounting to some £162billion of goods and services, is with the rest of the UK, while only 17 per cent is with the EU.
If Scotland did break away from the UK, would there have to be a ‘Hadrian’s Trade and Immigration Wall’ between Scotland and the remainder of the UK? The Westminster Parliament would not tolerate uncertificated imports, or illegal immigrants, moving unchecked over the Border.
The whole case being put forward by SnP politicians for achieving independence from the UK, but craving to be permitted to join the EU, sounds like ‘cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face’.
roBert i.G. sCott, Ceres, fife
Protect our interests
In the EU referendum, more than 16 million people were on the losing side and so feel upset at losing.
This was a UK-wide referendum, not a regional one, but in a referendum, it’s the side with the most votes which counts, we cannot have a best of three or five or even best of 100.
Instead of rushing over to Brussels and making Scotland the laughing stock of the EU, the First Minister should have met the Prime Minister to agree a time– table for leaving the EU and set up an advisory body to protect Scotland’s interests in the preliminary negotiations.
These have to be decided upon before Article 50 is invoked, which should not wait until September or October as the Prime Minister has indicated.
The First Minister should also know that the negotiators cannot have their hands tied behind their backs when negotiating with the EU, so she cannot publicly make demands – such as saying that EU nationals with essential skills and who live in the UK should be protected – which could compromise the negotiations, no matter how desirable those demands may be.
AlAstAir NelsoN, Johnstone, renfrewshire.
Break-up dreams
SO lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir are giving yet another £1million to fund the SnP’s latest UK break-up dreams. Fair enough, but what payback have they got so far for their sizeable donation?
Two lost referendums, a squad of increasingly embarrassing MPs who contribute little more than hollow rhetoric plus a reduced majority in Holyrood.
If I were Mr or Mrs Weir, I’d be looking for a better return on my investment.
MArtiN redferN, edinburgh.
Sick of absences
THE high rate of sickness absence (Mail) has become a national joke, and firms report that they cannot operate properly because of it.
This week it’s a rail company; a short while ago it was the nHS.
What I find appalling is that none of these organisations seems aware of the obvious remedies. I accept there’s a lot of stress in some jobs, and an essential requirement for absolute fitness for duty. But it’s not difficult to manage this in a sensible and fair manner.
When I was responsible for human resources at two FTSE 100 firms, we had the lowest absenteeism and sickness rates in the industry. They were always much lower than in the public sector.
Abusing the company’s sick pay scheme is tantamount to fraud, and we made it a disciplinary offence to do this. For example, a commis chef who said he was sick, but took the day off to attend a pop concert, was dismissed with the agreement of his trade union representatives.
A lady in publishing who had the highest number of days of sickness among 2,500 employees was ill only on Fridays or on days either side of a bank holiday. She resigned at her disciplinary hearing.
I was fortunate that both companies supported good, positive HR practice. We also had a very low labour turnover.
A year ago, after the nHS reported staff sickness problems, I wrote offering my (unpaid) help. My letter didn’t get past the ‘correspondence committee’.
KeN sMitH, Bedale, N. Yorks.
Our debt to Poland
SOMEOnE should tell the angry thugs who want to ‘take their country back’ by harassing Polish migrants and trashing their property that, but for Polish migrants, there might well not be a Britain for anyone to ‘take back’.
Seventy-five years ago, a handful of Polish airmen took part in the Battle of Britain. They proved themselves deadly, accounting for 10 per cent of all German planes shot down. The Polish squadron in northolt was the RAF’s most effective unit. Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding said: ‘Had it not been for the magnificent work of the Polish squadrons and their unsurpassed gallantry, I hesitate to say that the outcome of the battle would have been the same.’
roseMArY CUMPstoN, oxford.
Battle for Nato
TWEnTY-TWO of the EU’s 28 members attended the nato summit at the weekend with the intention of building on a 2001 accord to take nato/EU co-operation ‘to the next level’.
I understand why those who campaigned in the referendum to leave the EU felt obliged to play down this link. But in view of the growing Russian threat, we should support this initiative and make sure the Brexit negotiations don’t harm this process but fully include us — in all our interests.
JoHN dAVies, st ives, Cambs.
Chilcot fallout
WITH the Chilcot Report published, people are baying for Tony Blair’s blood. But there isn’t the slightest chance that he or any of the officers involved in the Iraq conflict will face prosecution.
no, the ones who will be persecuted will be the privates, corporals and sergeants.
The more unscrupulous members of the legal profession will hound them mercilessly to get them to court for daring to defend themselves and killing the enemy.
dAVid MAsoN, Great dunmow, essex.