Sarwar and Ross should be pressuring their UK leaders
I WANT to propose the idea that democracy has been six feet under since the rise of neoliberalism in the 1980s. Neoliberalism oversaw the assassination of public services. Through its champions such as Margaret Thatcher the deconstruction of workers’ rights, communities and government were imposed for unregulated profit. Simply put, lots of money for the few without consideration or care for whom it may harm.
So, what has been the impact of the deregulation of public services? Well, the results are in and according to research by Ben Tippet and Rafael Wildaur of the University of Greenwich, in 2023 the richest 50 families in the UK held more wealth than half of the UK population (33.5 million people). For me this is a clear statement from our country: we have replaced democracy with a modernised feudalist system. But rather than being ruled over by lords and queens, we are ruled over by conglomerate business owners.
No longer is a fair wage given for labour
No longer are workers’ rights protected, and a fair wage given to an individual’s labour. The fall of trade unions has given rise to competing billion-pound monopolies. The perception of public services changed from a universal right to economic capital. The question became what household name would now own the trade that controls the conditions of human welfare. Thus, the continuous slashing of public services has led us back to the Victorian times.
Workers are expected to work increasingly longer hours with a pay rate that has not been adjusted to annual inflation rates. The consequence of this incompetence has caused a ripple effect throughout the entire welfare system. The UK’s government has become dependent on private enterprise to fund, paradoxically, public services. Power, I believe, is with those who can offer security.
Jack Williamson
Forres
WHILST applauding without reservation The National’s campaign to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestine (MAP), I was rather dumbfounded by an article in which the leaders of the Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour made statements. Douglas Ross had the gall to comment on the “heartbreaking” events in Gaza. Anas Sarwar quite rightly urged everyone to give to the charity. What a pity he is not as earnest in requesting that the leader of the Labour Party in Westminster, Mr Starmer, supports a ceasefire. Starmer’s action on February 21 in impeding the SNP’s opportunity to put forward its motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza was a disgrace.
Although the UK Government and the party of the opposition actually supporting a vote for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza cannot physically affect the Israeli government’s continuing assault on Gaza, it does put pressure on other governments. It is also a question of humanity. More than 75% of the country supports a ceasefire. It is shameful that our government in Westminster is acting against the will of the people and accepting the continued slaughter in Gaza. Indeed, not only accepting it but profiting by it.
Whilst the UK Government is crying crocodile tears over the situation it is, as one of your correspondents said, sending aid in through the front door and arming Israel through the back door. However, thanks to the Westminster government’s decision to pause its support of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and the Israeli authority consistently blocking aid getting through, the people of Gaza are not even getting the essential help they need. It would seem that no impediment stops the supply of armaments from the UK to Israel.
The Westminster government, therefore, is doubly culpable of supporting genocide. If the Scottish branches of the Conservative and Labour parties are really appalled by the actions of Netanyahu and his government, they should consider the lack of action being made by the Westminster government to stop the killing.
Over the last five months the Dumfries & Galloway branch of Palestine Solidarity Campaign Group has been holding weekly rallies in the centre of Dumfries. The support shown by the people has been amazing. We have invited members of the various political parties to attend our rallies but the only political representative to take up our offer has been from the Greens.
Recent invitations to the Labour Party representative in the Scottish Government, have failed to elicit a response. The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Tory party, Mr Jack has not graced us with his presence. The hypocrisy of these politicians knows no bounds. Perhaps your newspaper can elicit from the representatives of the Scottish branches of the Labour and Tory parties the reason why their leaders in Westminster refuse to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Jan Smith
Dumfries
THE IDF appear to have been indoctrinated as part of their training that Palestinians are “human animals”. If Palestinians are living like that, it is because of the oppression of decades by the Israeli government. If Netanyahu thinks he is going to make Israel secure by eliminating them, he must know that he is only making the hatred and desire for revenge stronger. Every man who has lost everything will be struggling to survive so that he can be part of an even stronger Hamas and wreak the same havoc on Israel in the future. This war is not about security, it is about possession of “the land God gave the Jews” and Netanyahu will even sacrifice the hostages, if necessary, to achieve that.
L Mc Gregor
Falkirk