UK’s strength

There is currently a crisis of confidence in our politicians and a closely related sense of outrage about the global usurping of our democratic processes by the corporate sector.

It is not surprising that so many voters are turning in protest to Ukip and the SNP, in spite of the fact that neither separatist party has the answer to what is a global crisis of neo-liberalism. However, both parties, opportunistic as ever, are taking advantage of the growing dissatisfaction with the direction in which the West is heading. 

I agree with Joyce McMillan, not only in her response to her own question “Is the No camp killing the Union?” (Perspective, 18 April), but also with her assertion that “it is pointless for nationalist commentators to frame the British state as intrinsically malign – its history proves that it has not always been so”. As she implies, the UK has shown itself to be more than capable of overcoming the challenges which require to be addressed in our ongoing determination to move towards a more civilised society. There are setbacks, but Britain should not be judged solely in the context of these.

I believe, for instance, that the UK has the capacity to address the negative economic and social impacts of inequality with far too many of our fellow citizens excluded from meaningful participation in our society. We don’t need the diversionary irrelevance of independence to achieve this. 

John Milne

Ardgowan Drive, 
Uddingston