THE Scots and the Labour Party have now taken the first power-drunk step towards the dismemberment of the United Kingdom.

It is now 'us and them' instead of 'we.' Scotland has received the promised bounty, the pieces of silver, the pay-off for putting the Tories to the sword at the election. They have caused a haemorrhage and it will not be staunched.

What leaves me fuming and exasperated is the fact that I am ruled and governed by Scots.

The Prime Minister, The Foreign Secretary, The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, The Lord Chancellor, plus more than 60 other MPs, are all Scots.

And still they have the Celtic gall to say that they require 'independence.' Well, so do I!

Steps will have to be taken in retaliation for this ignominious betrayal. We must now re-build Hadrian's Wall; this will keep a few hundred kilted stone-masons busy for a year or two.

Do not expect any of my taxes to be used north of the wall. The Scots should go to their old and shifty ally across the Channel. (But don't dare to use my tunnel).

Perhaps a bit of Chesterton's 'The Secret People' would be appropriate here:

"Smile at us, pay us, pass us; but do not quite forget!

For we are the people of England, that never has spoken yet.

You laugh at us and love us, both mugs and eyes are wet;

Only you do not know us,

For we have not spoken yet."

R NICHOLSON (Mr), Birch Hall Avenue, Darwen.

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