Obscene reveal

It’s a sad reflection in this enlightened age that with child poverty increasing and food banks labouring under austerity the charity Shelter has launched an urgent appeal, as homelessness in Scotland has affected a staggering 28,297 households. In the Scottish working population new research has revealed that nearly one in five Scots are still earning below the real living wage in this richly endowed nation. In stark contrast, the £120 billion lost to the UK exchequer in tax avoidance and evasion is utterly obscene.

The shocking revelations about the UK’S tax avoidance schemes for the rich and powerful, through offshore bank accounts – none of which are apparently illegal – are fully compliant with this Tory govpositive ernment. And since the majorityof the media is owned by the UK establishment the hegemony of the corrupt ruling classes is assured irrespective of austerity, Westminster sleaze, tax-avoidance, low wages and the rest.

When it comes to tax dodging on a grand scale, contrary to Gordon Brown’s recent utterances, both Labour and Conservative administrations have been complicit in looking the other way – a political system that punishes honesty and innocence and rewards greed and avarice must not survive.

As this leaderless minority Tory government disintegrates it is vital democracy is rescued and a firm stance taken against moral corruption. Since Scotland is being dragged out of Europe against the will of its people by a disastrous British far right Brexit ideology, the only logical option is to vote for complete independence, leaving proud England to find its own way in a post-imperial world.

GRANT FRAZER Cruachan, Newtonmore