Readers' Letters: UK should go federal to cope with Brexit

Images of new President Joe Biden have been reassuring. The US election showed a nation divided, not in a nice way. However, it also demonstrated that in any democracy four years come and go.

New US President Joe Biden is giving the Western world renewed optimism

As the pandemic rages we’re being encouraged to turn attention to the election of our next Scottish Government so let’s first consider what’s at stake – the ultimate break-up of the UK. Whilst British and Scottish nationalists claim the moral high ground post Brexit, the chaos of leaving a Customs Union hits home. The simplistic SNP answer to such Tory-inspired chaos is always “independence”. Why any responsible Scottish Government would pile more economic pain on top of Brexit by splitting from another successful economic union inside the UK is hard to comprehend.

Constitutional wrangling is a total distraction from any recovery plan, with no clear aim apart from creating further division. As a pro-European I believe it is critical we first resolve the poor outcomes of a bad Brexit deal.

Progressive politicians recognise the need for change, not just in Scotland but across the UK. They understand areas of England and Wales have differing economic and social priorities to resolve. To achieve an amicable, rather than a confrontational, settlement we must now embrace plans for a Federal UK along the lines of successful democracies like Germany and Switzerland. If not, I suspect the next four years will be like a “walk in the park” compared to the next 40.

Galen Milne, Ochiltree, Dunblane

Left with a rump

It is sad to see Pamela Nash of Scotland in Union referring to Scotland leaving the UK (Another Voice, January 24). She should know that, since Scotland is an integral component of the UK, it cannot “leave”. Separating Scotland from England (unpicking the Treaty of Union) destroys both “Great Britain” and the UK and leaves a rump, made up of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In no way could that still be called “the UK”.

The consequences of so-called independence for Scotland should be explained more plainly, especially by Scotland in Union. Brexit has been bad enough but Scexit would be disastrous for everyone in these islands, and even the world.

Steuart Campbell, Dovecot Loan, Edinburgh

One rule for them?

Much as I admire the good work done by SNP MSP Kevin Stewart, why does he break the rules and travel to Edinburgh just to applaud the speeches made by his leader, Nicola Sturgeon, at Holyrood. His time would be safer spent In the Aberdeen area serving the constituents.

Is this a case of one rule for the people but another rule for elected politicians?

Dennis Forbes Grattan, Mugiemoss Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen

Cull the politicians

Official figures analysed by the Taxpayers' Alliance show that on average MPs will cost taxpayers nearly £240,000 in salaries and expenses for 2020/21. There are 650 MPs with a basic salary of £81,932. In addition there are about 800 politicians in the House of Lords and 129 Scottish MSPs. Add 1,227 local councillors in Scotland, about 20,000 in England and Wales and 462 in Northern Ireland and the cost of "democracy" becomes horrendous. Taxpayers are certainly not getting value for money. It is time for a cull on these numbers.

Clark Cross, Springfield Road, Linlithgow

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