Grievance? We give, they take

Sir, – The knee-jerk response to any concern raised by the Scottish Government regarding shortcomings in Westminster policies is to dismiss it as “grievance politics” or “manufactured grievance”.

Employed daily, the claim of “grievance” has become the default position of unionist-leaning commentators in the absence of any legitimate counterargument to criticism.

After all, grievance is surely an unreasonable stance for an “equal partner in this precious union of equals”?

But then, Scottish Secretary David Mundell has let slip the awful truth: “You’re not a partner in the UK – You’re a part of the UK !”

So, what grounds are there for genuine grievances?

To list one or two that

have grabbed headlines: Oil Grab, Sea Grab, Land Grab, Money Grab (2008), Pension Grab, Waspi Grab, Farm Subsidy Grab, Crown Estate Grab, Benefits Grab, Fisheries Grab, a Loch Grab (for parking WMD at a safe distance from London).

Scotland’s always up for grabs.

Maybe it’s time for whingeing Scots subsidy junkies to ditch the grievance and accept that life is a compromise – give and take. We give, they take.

Otherwise Westminster would have to learn to stand on its own feet.

James Stevenson. Drummond Avenue, Auchterarder.