Netanyahu, Trump and Johnson illustrate why Scots need to break free

Sir, – Recent events in Israel do not bode well for western democracies. With the break-up of the coalition parties, Benjamin Netanyahu is making moves to retake Israel under the Likud Party (National Liberal Movement).

What’s that got to do with us?

Israel is often used as a “bellwether” state, where activities there are preludes to what often happens in America, and as we all know the wind that sweeps America frequently drops its spindrift on the UK after a 3,000-mile trip across the Pond.

Netanyahu has been investigated by police and investigators for breach of trust, corruption, bribery and fraud, and was required to step down from his ministerial roles, except prime minister, until his ousting in 2019.

Currently Donald Trump is making the same noises, as he and his cohorts are planning to destabilise the US House of Representatives at the 2024 elections. Trump is, as we are all aware, being investigated as to his contribution to the insurrection that he is alleged to have instigated over some months and stoked in the days prior to and on the day of the attempted coup of January 6 2021.

In the UK we have a dysfunctional democracy and both Netanyahu and Boris Johnson have lived and worked in the good ol’ US of A. Netanyahu is bosom buddies with “The Donald”, as is Boris.

“Cutting the head off the monster” by removing in this instance (instances) Johnson, Trump and Netanyahu, is not the full answer. The body will regrow a new head. In the UK the head will be selected by the grouping which wields the most power, the ERG or CRG or NRG groupings of politicians. English voters don’t see these sub-labels on the ballot paper. What about Labour, you may well ask. Yes, what about Labour? Nowhere.

Scotland’s 59 MPs in Westminster are treated very badly, exemplified by the Minister of State for Scotland Alister Jack’s comment to another Scottish MP to just “suck it up”. Scots need to escape being controlled by the UK. The EU/EFTA/EEA groups have a far better track record.

There will be other crises – wars, floods, famines and all sorts of bad stuff that will happen. Taking responsibility for our own actions is our right and our responsibility.

Don’t let the short-term cloud the long term.

Alistair Ballantyne.

Birkhill, Angus.