Out of touch

Robert Halfron, ex-tory minister, tells us that the Tories are out of touch with the young, and in denial about it.

I agree, it is difficult for people to face the truth when it hurts. Even Tory success in getting young people back to work (through depending on the tough love of ESA) has had predictable negative consequences.

It led to a bigger pool of unskilled labour which encouraged industrialists to reduce wages and hours.

Neo-liberals obsess about micro-managing rather than macro-managing and don’t notice other factors pertaining to the bigger picture.

The idea that by reducing the purchasing power of consumers, you weaken industrial confidence was never considered by the Tories. Yet, a socialist government in Portugal has raised industrial growth simply by driving up wages and hence purchasing power.

Similarly, Tory press enthusiasts for Brexit told us we will only lose about 20,000 finance-related jobs. Frankfurt will be happy to get only 20,000 to 80,000 jobs from London, because it knows that the boost to the local economy will give work to another 100,000.

Expect that situation in reverse in London, because the head of RBS has now told us that foreign banks have already decided to move units abroad no matter what kind of “pigs’ breakfast” the government makes of Brexit.

What about tax returns? How will dwindling returns support £10 billion for the NHS or even a Brexit battlefund? And what about preparedness for Brexit? Our lack of preparation and administrative focus is doing a lot to convince Europe that they can dominate this weak government in negotiations.

Neo-liberal idealists shout about fair play, but every industry leader, every trade union leader and every European leader knows that his job is to get the best outcome for his side.

Instead of being distrustful towards trade unions and economists exclusively, neoliberals should have been realistic about all the actors who participate in our global economy. Realism could have made it likely that the present government would have been a strategic one. History will judge it differently.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh Theresa May’s sudden announcement seems to prepare for a ‘no deal’ and to make the country an independent trading nation again!

The measures announced imply great troubles ahead and so the great lorry parks and quasi ‘state of emergency’ measures to minimise disruption, self-imposed of course. It seems the concept of open, free-trade trading global nation has gone.

If the intention is to cow the EU into submission, it looks misplaced.

One is reminded more of the Second World War and Festung Europa (Fortress Europe). Is it now to be defiant Festung Britannia?

All we need to hear now is “careless talk costs lives” and “dig for victory” to realise that insanity prevails!

Of course, the Scottish Office “forgot” to tell Holyrood!

JOHN EDGAR Merrygreen Place, Stewarton There is ample evidence to contradict Keith Howell’s claim of exaggerated or imagined grievance from the SNP against the UK Government and the Brexit process (Letters, 10 October).

Recent examples include the UK’S failure to register Scotch Beef and Lamb as protected names in the EU trade deal with Japan and Canada.

Scottish Government ministers only learned of new Brexit papers on trade and customs at the last minute after staff at the Scotland Office ‘forgot’ to tell them and there was no mention of Scotland or Scots law in the UK Government’s promotion of UK legal services.

The SNP has submitted sensible amendments to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill to ensure continued membership of the EU single market and customs union ‘as a minimum’, as well as guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens and stopping a Westminster power grab in devolved areas.

Not that you would know this from watching TV news coverage, as despite being the third largest party at Westminster and second in the UK in membership, the SNP rarely gets any Uk-wide opportunity to put Scotland’s case.

FRASER GRANT Warrender Park Road,

Edinburgh