Alastair Majury (Letters, April 9) argues that the UK economy has stayed resilient in the face of Brexit. This is to ignore the known fact that the economy has contracted since Brexit and will achieve around 4% less output annually for the foreseeable future. The hard cash figure is £100 billion a year.
Mr Majury calls in aid the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), which the UK joined in 2024. By the UK Government’s own admission, it will contribute just 00.08% to UK GDP over 10 years.
Who we have as our closest friends and closest trading partners matters far more than it did before Donald Trump’s chaotic remodelling of long-established global trade arrangements. Mr Trump has introduced instability to the global economy. We cannot be sure whether this is temporary or a permanent feature of how the US wants to do business. We can’t risk hanging about to find out.
Rebuilding our trading, employment, financial, educational and cultural connections with Europe is not now simply a matter of ideological preference but of looking to our own best interests in terms of trade, jobs, defence, food security and long-term economic recovery.
The USA has proven not to be as good a friend as we long thought. The Special Relationship is dead. Brexit left us isolated, less competitive and poorer.
To not draw closer to the EU would be economically and politically illiterate and be a recipe for the continuing under-achievement of the UK economy.
Scotland deserves better.
David Clarke, Chair, The European Movement in Scotland, Edinburgh.
Trump Show is a turn-off
The Trump Show continues with episode after relentless episode, that we must all binge-watch whether we like it or not ("Trump pauses on some tariffs but hits China as world trade war escalates", The Herald, April 10). It is wreaking havoc and uncertainty in its wake, as its central character explores just how far reality TV can stretch before the real world breaks.
To understand what this show is all about you need to comprehend the magnitude of its core narrative. What we are viewing is a leading man with an ego the size of the Grand Canyon leaving the world by turns bemused, concerned and panicked, as he seeks to govern by headlines. It is important meanwhile to remember that despite all the bravado he does not know what he is doing.
Peace deals are struck and instantly fall apart. Countries are told arrogantly that they will be taken over but all this achieves is to unify all shades of opinion in those countries against him. Tariffs are used like bets in a game with the most serious of outcomes but without a set of rules to play by.
Surrounded by yes men the central character is the star of a show with no boundaries of good judgement, norms of behaviour, or respect. In tonight’s episode for example the President of the United States bragged that world leaders were calling up and, as he put it, “kissing my ass” trying to get a deal with the great man. As with so many of his throw-away lines he revealed in this so much about himself and the way he is prepared to demean his office in stroking his own ego.
Watching this second series of the Trump Show is a harsh reminder of just how bad things can get when personal responsibility, careful planning and dignity of the office are all treated as discretionary and inconvenient rather than essentials of good government. It is rumoured that a third series of this bad taste comedy of errors might be in development. We can only hope that America comes to its senses long before then.
Keith Howell, West Linton.
• If Keir Starmer has any sense he will suggest that Buckingham Palace organises a royal visit to the Commonwealth ally of Canada.
A Palace reception for the Canadian Premier would also be useful before the arrival of the American President.
Andy McAdam, Ayr.
Read more letters
- We need a coalition of willing trading nations to fight Trump
- Here's why so many millions are voting for Reform and Farage
Don't be misled by Farage
It is interesting, if not totally illogical, that William Loneskie (Letters, April 11) expects “the Establishment”, which backed Nigel Farage and Brexit, and which now bankrolls Reform UK, to be on the end of “a kick up the backside” with “Reform’s arrival”.
If this is truly Mr Loneskie’s aim then he should consider arguing for constitutional reform which is the only reform that will significantly change the UK’s failing democratic, economic and social structure, a structure which primarily serves the British Establishment and its acolytes as the UK wealth gap disgracefully widens.
Over the last decade thousands of millionaires (many of whom backed Brexit), have left the UK and relocated overseas, while many more people who could not afford to change domicile have increasingly struggled financially. The UK’s deplorable failings, with tragic consequences for the poorest and most vulnerable, will be grossly exacerbated should voters again be naively misled by the simplistic words barked by Donald Trump’s smirking poodle in the UK.
Stan Grodynski, Longniddry.
Immigrants enrich us
William Loneskie (Letters, April 10) says millions are voting for Reform because Nigel Farage is “an outstanding leader” and the party is not as First Minister John Swinney suggests “racist, far right”.
It’s obvious to me that Mr Loneskie doesn’t want immigrants in Scotland, despite the fact our NHS, agriculture and hospitality industries are crying out for more staff.
Can he not appreciate what the people and cultures of India, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Greece, Italy, France, Africa, Poland, Germany, and many other places have brought to Scotland?
No doubt he applauds, as we all do, what the Scots have achieved elsewhere in the world after being kicked out of their own country in the Clearances and since. Imagine if they’d been refused entry.
Andy Stenton, Glasgow.
SNP policies are not 'free'
Rebecca McQuillan gives a “magnolia" view of the SNP Government’s record ("Next year’s Scottish election could end up pleasing nobody", The Herald, April 10). On the debit side of her imaginary balance sheet she rightly places falling NHS and educational standards, increased drug deaths, the ferries and recycling debacles et al. On the credit side she cites free school meals, the Scottish Child Payment, free bus travel for under-22s, free school meals, free prescriptions, free childcare etc (free baby boxes somehow omitted).
When will she and others of a similar mind realise that there is no such thing as “free”? All of these items have a cost to the public purse and affordability appears to be the last thing the Scottish Government considers (if it considers it at all) before implementing these uncosted bribes to the electorate.
Alan Ramage, Edinburgh.
Universal delight
Universal Studios clearly has great confidence in the UK's economic future with its intention to build a big theme park in Bedfordshire ("Government seals deal to bring first Universal theme park in Europe to UK", The Herald, April 9). That project has brought a welcome boost to Keir Starmer's flagging economic programme.
It came as no surprise that he exploited this news on the major news channels. I am sure that he must have breathed a heavy sigh of relief when the Universal Studios spokesman cited Britain as a safe place for such investment.
The opening of that theme park may be six years down the line but it injects hope in the path being followed by the Labour Government to renew the economic growth of our country.
Not only will it produce a large number of jobs but it will also attract many tourists who might otherwise have decided to head for America to enjoy the thrills and spills awaiting them there.
There was a mention that 80 per cent of the jobs in the theme park would be filled by the local population, leaving 20% to be filled by people from outside. You have to wonder what jobs are contained in that fifth and for whom those places are reserved.
Perhaps there will soon be coming down the line further announcements of projects which will contribute to investment and growth for the British economy. Such news should brighten what has been so far a dark horizon for the PM and his Chancellor.
In the midst of the maelstrom of the imposition of tariffs by Donald Trump to bring businesses back into the US to alleviate the rip-off he says, of the US by both friend and foe, will it enter the mind of the maestro of business deals that the creation of the new theme park could reduce the number of tourists flocking to the States to enjoy such powerfully attractive amenities when they will have one on their doorstep without having to take flights across the Atlantic?
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.
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