HOW long will it take before the first rumblings of "we didn’t vote for this" are heard across the "Blue Wall" constituencies regarding Brexit?
Amidst the Government’s own "reasonable worst-case scenario" about a no-deal Brexit, there are warnings about food and fuel shortages, and evidence is amassing that the poorest communities would be hit hardest. In the context of a pandemic that has disproportionately impacted those very communities, it is neither rational nor moral to take steps that would make this situation significantly worse. I have not yet seen one piece of robust data that demonstrates definitively how a no-deal Brexit would benefit the UK and how it would help with the so-called "levelling up" agenda.
Walter Scott reminds us that the best sailors are those who can '"extract a motive power out of the greatest obstacles". Over the next few days of negotiations with the EU, I urge the Prime Minister to rise above party self-interest and get a deal done that protects rather than destroys the most vulnerable communities. Fundamentally, Boris Johnson needs to embrace his inner Scott. Lesley McAra, Edinburgh EH9.
HOW can Andrew McKie ("Brexit? It pales next to the cataclysm of coronavirus", The Herald, December 7) say the economic warnings of Remainers about Brexit look flimsy when it hasn't yet happened?
You can be sure that the Conservatives will blame all the problems in the economy in future on Covid. That strategy was obvious when the Chancellor made no mention of Brexit in his Autumn Statement. All economic reports agree that it will affect our economy adversely. That will have serious long-term consequences as life expectancy, linked to both poverty and economic equality, has been falling for some years. Brexit can only accentuate that trend. For those involved, generally the poorer elements in society, that will be a very big deal. Brexit has always been an obsession of the right wing of the Conservative Party. Unfortunately, Labour plans to throw away the possible political advantage of the situation by voting for whatever deal is agreed. Thus, should Labour try to criticise any consequences of Brexit, the reply will be: "You voted for it." Does Sir Keir Starmer not want to win elections?
Ewan Henderson, Haddington.
AS someone who voted Remain (in the forlorn hope of radical reform) and who accepted the democratic UK-wide referendum to Leave and then hoped for a "Canada-style" trade deal, it is now clear to me that a “no deal” is better than a “bad deal”.
Why? First, we were promised a Canada-style Agreement by Michel Barnier, only for it to be withdrawn when we asked for one. Furthermore, the EU wants to redefine international law regarding our sovereignty by refusing to accept our territorial waters and insisting upon us accepting its interpretation of what a level playing field means along with legal jurisdiction over us to ensure we comply. In other words we would become rule takers and under its thumb without recourse.
Frankly, my view is that Germany is more willing to compromise than France simply because the Germans are more confident of their own abilities and may yet crack the whip at the coalition of the unwilling. Besides a Global Britain would be forced to look outside the EU for its markets to make up any shortfall by leaving, which is no bad thing when one considers that 90 per cent of the world’s growth is forecast to be outside the EU.
Small wonder the weaker members of the EU are terrified (unlike the “New NAFTA” which respects individual sovereignty) of having the world’s fifth-largest economy on their doorstep operating under a global level playing field and no longer shackled to the EU with its shrinking market share of the world economy. Deal or no-deal Brexit, we will succeed.
Ian Lakin, Aberdeen AB13.
MUCH as I agree with your esteemed correspondents' views of the current UK Government's handling of Brexit, the virus and the country in general, the word "omnishambles" (Letters, December 3, 4, 7 & 8) was named word of the year by the Oxford English Dictionary in 2012 after it summed up UK politics back then, proof, if ever it was needed, that government failures of all colours are nothing new.
The word rose to prominence in The Thick of It, a TV spoof on power at Westminster. Now we can only look back fondly and wish that fiction were true. Today's reality would have been unthinkable then and I fear there is worse to come at the hands of the idiots who appear to be in charge.
Steve Brennan, Coatbridge.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here