Voiceofreason

I always look forward to reading Brian Wilson’s column on a Friday. Amidst the political turmoil of the last few years he stands out as a genuine voice of reason, making insightful comments and reasoned arguments while calling out the dire politicians we suffer on both sides of the Border for their ludicrous posturing and narrow thinking.

I, like him, voted to remain in the EU, knowing that there are many things wrong with the institution but preferring stability over abrupt change.

But if change is going to come then the best thing to do is find new and interesting ways to take advantage of the situation.

The SNP are not doing this. Nicola Sturgeon alternates between raising yet more grievances with evil Westminster and making apocalyptic pronouncements on the consequences of Brexit (which to no one’s surprise are apparently backed up by figures produced by compliant Scottish Government analysts). If she continues to do this the opportunities of Brexit will pass Scotland by and no one will thank her, especially not voters in 2021.

One of Mr Wilson’s great strengths is that he can see others’ points of view, even if he doesn’t agree with them.

By contrast Joyce Macmillan seems to be confused, disappointedand disgusted that not everyone in Scotland thinks like her. As a fine writer on theatre she no doubt spends much of her time with the liberal progressive nationalists who dominate the performing arts in Scotland who enjoyed the limelight in 2014 and have been longing to re-stage the referendum ever since.

Many others in Scotland have moved on. It is possible that the majority of voters don’t want either the Scottish or EU referendums rerun as they now realise any binary vote which doesn’t have an overwhelming majority either way solves nothing. More likely they are just fed up with constitutional wranglings and ideological politics and would prefer a return to practical government on issues which affect their daily lives.

Unlike the SNP councillors in Glasgow who have made the ridiculous and ungrammatical decision to be a “City Government” most people would now prefer politicians to administer rather than effect disruptive change.

(DR) S J CLARK Easter Road, Edinburgh