As incompetence in London grows, Scottish independence seems a favourable prospect

Scottish independence is not inevitable nor particularly desirable for the majority in Scotland, but the incompetence of the current government makes it seem attractive to many.

The factional London press projects the myth of English exceptionalism to a large cohort of the country, which helped to propel a government into power that in 10 months has failed at everything. The cabinet and its special advisers are inexperienced theorists who have no qualifications for the roles they have been given. They are all shamefully terrible people when exposed in the light of day.

Independence seems to many in Scotland an escape route from the destructive impulses now visible in London.  

Bill O’Hara

Address supplied

Amanda Parker's article objecting to the term Bame is valid and needs to be dropped urgently. There is a simple solution to this problem which has been lingering for over 40 years. There was a time when minorities were called “coloured”. Then there was a blanket term, “black” for all Africans and Afro-Caribbeans and “Asian” for everyone from the subcontinent. There are huge differences between the people from the subcontinent. The Indian community wants to be known as just that – Indian. It hurts a lot to read headlines like, “Asian gangs”. The solution is that every ethnic group should be called by their ethnic origin. Bame has been foisted upon us by stealth. We are surprised as to how it has suddenly become widely used.  

The message is clear: we do not want to be known as Bame.

Nitin Mehta

Croydon

Whether one agrees with the activities of Extinction Rebellion or not it is so obvious that the championing of the free press by Boris Johnson and Priti Patel is more linked to supporting particular titles rather than freedom of the media in general. There have been several recent incidents of reports being withheld by government departments, presumably because they would cause embarrassment to the government. So much for press freedom.

Patrick Cleary

Gloucestershire

So Will O’Shea, another one of Dominic Cummings’s “misfits and weirdos”, has proved to be exactly that and had to leave, while the promised “oven ready” Brexit deal has proved to be anything but. 

Dido Harding and Gavin Williamson, on the other hand, are the epitome of the “fail, fail again, fail better” current philosophy of governing which also requires fighting to the last drop of some unfortunate civil or public servant’s blood who must be sacrificed to keep incompetent loyalists and toadies in place. Contracts are strewn like confetti to cronies, whether they are qualified to deliver them or not. 

The current cabinet would be rejected as not up to the standard required by the Walmington-on-Sea home guard. While people struggle with their daily lives, and a tsunami of unemployment just over the horizon, it’s pretty depressing to realise we’re in the last and least funny Carry On film, with Hattie Jacques as Boris Johnson, Kenneth Williams as Dominic Cummings and Kenneth Connor as Michael Gove. Take Back Control? Don’t make me laugh.

John Murray

Bracknell

Does Tony Abbot have a work permit for a position on the Board of Trade?

Is he denying a job to an equally qualified UK citizen?

Mark Vaughn

Blewbury

It isn't surprising that Portugal is currently reporting increased infection rates as their government advertising is urging the population to get a free test even if they only suspect they have come into contact with an infected person. This is designed to get a true picture of where they might have any problems prior to the big return to schools and work the week after next. Contrast and compare the issues facing people at home trying to obtain a Covid test.

As the World Health Organisation said, test, test and more tests.

It is difficult not to think that Boris Johnson’s refusal to test at UK airports is more to do with cost and lack of capacity than effectiveness.

“World beating?” At what?

S Lawrence

Estoril, Portugal