Scotland’s opposition to a Tory Brexit | Letters

“This will be a pivotal contest for Scotland’s place in British politics” was the heading of Saturday’s editorial (20 May). On one hand it was merely a statement of the blindingly obvious, and on the other, code for another statement of metropolitan opinion in the guise of analysis. That the conservatives have enjoyed a measure of success in local government elections in Scotland is true, thanks to our system of proportional representation. If first past the post had been the rule, the Tories would not have won a single seat.

This “success” is ascribed to the “charismatic leadership of Ruth Davidson” – a phrase beloved of the media. Like her leader, Theresa May, Ms Davidson has decided that her route to stardom will only be achieved by her wrapping herself in the union flag. She has no policies other than rejection of a second independence referendum. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that this will strike a chord with some of the no voters of 2014, but how far this will get her in the real debate, which is whether Scotland is a real country, or a subordinate region of the so-called United Kingdom, is a question she is probably frightened of answering, at least in public.

Your editorial repeats the poll figures tracking the support for independence (figures with which we up here are more than familiar), but interestingly some recent polls seem to indicate that support for continued EU membership has risen. The fact remains that here we have a country that clearly voted for membership of the EU being forced, against its will, and at likely huge economic cost, to have that membership terminated by a Tory government in Westminster. And the local branch of the Tory party is headed by a woman you credit with epitomising some sort of Tory revival. Good luck with that.
Nigel Ings
Cullipool, Isle of Luing, Argyll

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