Them and us

On reading Joyce McMillan’s article, “Murray baiting exposes the snobs” (Perspective, 5 July), I realise how disappointed I am at how the community of citizens outwith England’s home counties can so passively accept the plutocratic, oligarchical, corporatist form of government which is steadily replacing our democracy.

Did you vote for a Cabinet of public school, Oxbridge-educated millionaires with their alien values? I assume all but a very few of you didn’t. Do you not despair at the lack of political choice offered by Labour, Liberal Democrats or SNP?

Maybe we need not go so far as the Egyptians (the British generals would obviously support the Etonocrats anyway) but need we be so supine?

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The form of independence on offer from the SNP is not worth the disruption.

But would a Yes vote in the referendum at least open a door to the opportunity for a more democratic and civilised future for the Scots?

At least we perhaps ought to be grateful that we have the opportunity to reject the bread and circuses which keep us so shamefully indifferent to the fate being imposed upon the disabled, the ill, the marginalised, those whom the metropolitan elites see of no value as productive and consuming units.

John Milne

Uddingston, Lanarkshire

Joyce McMillan rides a storm front in reminding us yet again that a “ruling elite” looks down on everyone else (ie those visibly not like them), and dislikes ­self-confidence in those of different cultures – such as Andy Murray (but how does Sir Chris Hoy fit in?).

She can be assured that it isn’t just Scots who suffer from such condescension from the “South”: Smethwick is viewed by Beckenham as quite foreign territory, reflected in her feeling that regional accents are jeered at Westminster.

However, the self-perpetuating oligarchy of those who are called by some without definition “the establishment” has to be seen in the context of their own set’s internal interactions – sledging par excellence, Aussie-cricket style.

They close ranks against those who are thought to threaten their cliquedom, but can be, routinely, absolutely vicious with each other.

It goes with the separate school system.

Joe Darby

Ross-shire

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