Westminster panto

ROBERT CAIRNS Eastergate Cottage, Perth What a week it’s been. The local pantomimes might as well close down, because how can they compete with Westminster?

Lowest growth in the EU, most unequal regional development in developed world, entrenched inequality through Labour, coalition and Tory governments, a growing eye-watering national debt, Brexit chaos, leadership challenges, etc has made the UK a global laughing stock.

What of Scotland? The tale of two nations, Scotland and Ireland. Ireland is demonstrating the power of a small independent member of the EU – compare and contrast with the UK government’s treatment of devolved Scotland.

Ireland is in a union which has its back, helps it prosper and is respected. Scotland is in a union, if one can call it that, which ignores its voice, derides its politicians and extinguishes its progression and desires.

While Westminster crumbles further into chaos, with a UK government that has ceased to function, what a contrast with the Scottish Government that set out its budget for the year ahead – protecting public services, supporting the economy, investing in children and building a fairer country.

Does anybody still really believe that an independent Scotland couldn’t run its own affairs better than the utter shambles that the UK is making of things?

I have come to the conclusion the only sane option now for Scotland (and Wales) is independence as an equal full member state like Ireland in the EU, not the UK.

MR C GRIFFITHS

Denbigh, Wales