APART from the issues raised by the leaking of the Operation Yellowhammer report there are two areas of significant damage to our nation as a consequence of the Brexit conflict. The first is the drastic fracturing of the internal cohesion of our society.
The other damaging division emerges from the Hard Brexiters’ absolute ignorance of Irish history (remember Karen Bradley’s admission that before becoming the Northern Ireland Secretary in 2018 she was profoundly ignorant of the country’s political divisions?) This illiteracy renders them incapable of acting rationally on the matter of the Irish Border.
Just as little can now be done now to heal the damage to our sense of unity as a people it is unrealistic to hope that the backstop can yet be accepted, another recently leaked Government report warning that all British alternatives are fraught with difficulty. Only the backstop can protect the Irish in the short term from yet another disaster in the endless history of baleful Anglo-Irish tragedies in which the Irish have always been the victims.
I think it significant that 64 per cent of Boris Johnson’s Cabinet were public school-educated: the highest percentage for a generation. Is it therein that the likes of Jacob Rees-Mogg were taught “British” exceptionalism and where their dreams of Empire 2.0 originated? It is tragic that they cannot appreciate, as do the Irish, that influence, security and the protection of our way of life lie within the EU and certainly not with the US, Trumpian or otherwise.
John Milne, Uddingston.
ONE wonders how David Cameron feels when he looks on at the continued confusion, division and uncertainty caused by the decision to hold a referendum in 2016 on membership of the EU basically in an attempt to resolve the splits within the Conservative Party and to see off the Brexit Party. The latest development is the distinct possibility of another General Election.
In recent times Conservative Prime Ministers have seriously misjudged the mood of the electorate. Mr Cameron, following his "success" with the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, never really contemplated that the majority would vote to leave the EU in 2016.
Theresa May clearly thought that she would increase her majority when she called a General Election in 2017. Instead she lost it and had to turn to the DUP to sustain her position in Parliament – not an entirely trouble -free alliance.
Now we have a third Conservative Prime Minister stating that, in certain circumstances, he will seek to go to the electorate with another General Election. As matters stand, it is not clear that the country would be any better off. There is the likelihood that, with increased support for the LibDems and the SNP and the potentially influential effect of the Brexit Party, particularly in England, we could finish up with another hung Parliament with an inability to make progress in any direction and thus repeating the experience of the last three years.
What a prospect.
Ian W Thomson, Lenzie.
SO Michael Gove and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) disagree on the outcome of a No Deal; what a surprise.
We have the BRC extremely worried about a no deal (clearly in the project fear camp) and Michael Gove who has back-stabbed, lied and now clearly denies his previously-stated views, perhaps to promote his position in the Conservative Government or just to promote that party. Not to be trusted I am afraid, just like the PM. As an aside, where is all the extra money for health, education and infrastructure coming from? Is it from the money tree that has not being growing too well for the last 10 years?
Malcolm Rankin, Seamill.
WHEN Boris Johnson was a member of the Bullingdon Club it was only restaurants that they trashed. Trashing constitutions and economies, though, is an entirely different matter.
John Jamieson, Ayr.
Read more: Letters: We need a Royal Commission to look at the British Constitution
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