The revelation by Morgan McSweeney, Sir Keir Starmer’s former chief-of-staff, that after 14 years in opposition Labour was not prepared for government, is stunning. It’s quite a contrast with the optimistic and frequently moralistic tone of the party’s self-promotion.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden’s observation, in a message to Peter Mandelson, that all Labour backbenchers think about is: “Who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others?” is also very revealing. Taken together, these two comments confirm that Labour is out of its depth as a government.
However, the most revealing observation by a Labour politician is Paula Barker MP’s statement to Times Radio in May this year that the bond markets “will have to fall into line”. What is truly frightening is that this economic delusion is common among Labour MPs and activists.
The fundamental reason Labour, and indeed other progressive parties such as the SNP and the Greens, cannot solve the country’s problems is that their whole social programme of massive welfarism, unlimited immigration, effete criminal justice, and punishment of the productive and law-abiding members of society has been carried out.
Progressivism cannot solve the economic and social problems which it created.
Otto Inglis, Fife.
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Labour and the Tories have reduced politics to a sorry state
Give Starmer dignified exit
Let us hope that Sir Keir Starmer's final appearance at the despatch box for Prime Minister’s Questions provides him with a quiet and dignified exit.
He may not have been the most accomplished performer during his appearances, but he did his best to fight his corner, while lacking rhetorical polish and pizazz.
When someone retires from such a position, it would be gracious to observe the mantra "De mortuis nil nisi bonum " at the final send off.
So I’d expect the occasion to be more sedate, dignified, and punctuated with bursts of good humour and bonhomie, from all quarters of the debating chamber.
Even Kemi Badenoch is bound to be on her best behaviour, resisting firing barbs at an opponent she has crossed swords with for so long.
I hope the entire chamber rises at the end to give Sir Keir a resounding ovation, as his fellow MPs wish him every success for his future career, to which he will surely be better suited.
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.
Scotland’s left behind
I had a chat with the tradesman working on my house. His full time job is with an Aberdeen engineering company.
He told me that in the past two years, since Americans bought them, they've gone from 100 machinists to one.
The work is outsourced in the UK and abroad, then delivered to Aberdeen. So far, most of the paid-off staff have found work.
Like myself, this tradesman is utterly bemused by the UK and Scotland's desertion of oil and gas, and angry that many European countries buy these products from Russia.
He told me, as I have also read, that Eastern Europe is booming, calling his home country of Poland the ‘China of Europe’. He has thought of returning there.
The problem is that his two children, who are of secondary school age, are so far behind the education level of his home country, that they wouldn't catch up.
He was scathing about the state of Scottish education; our discipline, standards, and lack of homework. Also the "they're doing okay" parent-night feedback (when plainly this isn’t the case). Like many people, he pays £200 a month for maths tutoring.
So who is to blame for this situation? In my opinion it's us, the voters. We accept the decline happening before our eyes.
Politicians from opposition parties follow the woke Net Zero nonsense, instead of campaigning on election-winning policies, which will reverse the policies of the governments we've had for the last twenty-plus years.
This country is being left behind. Soon we’ll be unable to catch up.
Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven.
Irish way isn’t for Scotland
Alex Orr displays remarkable selectivity (Letters July 4) in promoting his ingrained nationalist bias. Memories are short: during the 2007 financial crisis Ireland was driven to the brink of economic collapse. While the EU/IMF provided the main bailout, the UK stepped in with a £3.25 billion bilateral loan to make up the much needed shortfall.
During this period there were large street protests as unemployment peaked near 16%, followed by large-scale emigration to the UK (via the Common Travel Area) and Australia. A great way to export your problems to another country!
The truth is Ireland’s headline GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth owes much to its role as a low-tax base for US multinationals, a model now under pressure from the EU and the US. Scotland would arrive late to this game, with Jersey and the Isle of Man already firmly in control of similar niches. We also lack the weather, unless global warming proves unusually benevolent.
Crucially, GDP distorts the picture. GNP (Gross National Product), or Ireland’s modified GNI (Gross National Income), better reflects retained national income and reveals social challenges similar to the UK’s.
There’s no silver bullet left for Indy Scotland, only a hard slog outside the UK internal market and the EU for an indeterminate length of time.
No thanks.
Better to get a grip on runaway socialism in Scotland, restore Adam Smith’s basic principles, and reboot our economy to become the most prosperous part of the UK.
Ian Lakin, Milltimber, Aberdeen.
Reversing Brexit is best
Britain must rejoin the European Union. Want the evidence?
‘Best for Britain’ recently commissioned Frontier Economics to produce a report on the economic benefits of EU membership.
The research proves what we all know. If we want to fix the damage done by Brexit, stepping stones won't do. We must go for membership.
Membership would deliver over £92billion of GDP growth, equivalent to more than 3.6% of GDP, and over £43billion in additional exports for British businesses each year. Almost entirely reversing the damage done by Brexit.
These exports are mainly made up of goods rather than services, meaning EU membership would benefit areas away from London the most.
In total, goods exports will rise by £43billion with EU membership, compared to the £16billion export loss these industries will suffer if Nigel Farage gets in and worsens our European ties further.
It's not only us that will benefit. Europe will too, experiencing an almost £38billion boost to their own exports and increasing the EU’s GDP in the long run by more than £68billion.
John Gordon, Glasgow.
Criminal neglect
Latest official crime statistics reveal that overall crime is rising in Scotland.
Some crimes, such as hate crime and shoplifting, are seriously out of control.
Despite this, First Minister John Swinney insists our police force, now at a record low of 16,430 officers, is adequate to maintain law and order.
In contrast, police unions are saying they don’t have enough officers and modern equipment to do their job, and struggle to keep up with the workload.
Meanwhile, we spot illegal electric scooters and electric bikes everywhere on our pavements and roads, while shopkeepers say that theft and assaults on staff are at record levels and beyond police control.
Who should we believe ?
Dennis Forbes Grattan, Aberdeen.
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