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Is ‘feudalist republicanism’ a thing?
I recently received the professional delivery by Royal Mail of an unaddressed long white ‘CL’ size envelope, marked in the top left hand corner with the coat of arms of the former Burgh of Gourock.
Yes, the same image that Inverclyde Council recently unanimously agreed to remove from display in public spaces on account of its association with the Darroch family, the feudal superior, feudalism generally and the superiors’ family fortune, which was raised from slavery.
There is the additional issue of the said ‘image’ being the heraldic property of Inverclyde Council, and as such can only be used with the express permission of the local authority and the Lyon Office.
The front of the envelope, in red letters, stated IMPORTANT: GOUROCK IMPROVEMENT SURVEY, all to make it look like an official document.
The content was an expensively produced A4 sized letter from a person using the name of Christopher McEleny, looking for ideas to improve the town.
He fails to mention that he is the general secretary of a political party registered with the Electoral Commission.
Some months ago, that party had a major national poster campaign ,with said posters stating that ‘it is time for a Scottish republic’, depicting unpleasant images of the King with his face scored out.
This certainly brings about a first – a feudalist republican. Has any reader ever heard of such a thing? I have not.
I’ve heard of, and met, Conservative trade unionists, freemason socialists, ‘Champagne Charlie’ leftists, ‘caviar and smoked salmon Fabians’ (I have even been accused of being such a creature).
But I’ve never before heard of a feudalist republican. Have you?
Graham Winters
Kirn Drive, Gourock
‘Dog story renews faith in human nature’
What a heart-rending story you published on the front page of the Telegraph on August 8 about Grace, the lost dog who was found after a search of the hills lasting several days.
Grace certainly had her angels protecting her through the traumatic experience that she had to go through before she was found.
All the groups of people that rallied round to help renews your faith in human nature and shows mankind at its best. I’m quite sure there were prayers said for Grace to be found safe and well, by people hoping that everything works out together for good, and this time it did.
What a moment it must have been when her owner Lesley got the news that Grace had been found. Lesley’s heart must have missed a beat, in the best possible way.
I know from reading the article that Grace has a lot of ailments that come with age, but I know she will make a full recovery and hopefully be even stronger. I hope Lesley gets over an experience that must have been very harrowing for her.
It’s just lovely that there was such a happy ending. Grace is definitely a wee dog in a million.
Evelyn Goodridge
Hope Street, Greenock
‘What is SNP plan for independence?’
On Wednesday, September 18, coincidentally the 10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum, two things relevant to Scottish independence happened.
Firstly, SNP depute leader Keith Brown said that Westminster will never consent to a second referendum on Scottish independence.
Secondly, our local SNP MSP Stuart McMillan, who is a well respected figure in Holyrood, having sat on the back benches there for 17 years, and who currently serves as the SNP parliamentary group convener, voted with his colleagues, the Conservatives and the Labour party to oppose an Alba Party attempt to have the Scottish Parliament agree that the next Holyrood election would be used as a de facto independence referendum.
Therefore, if the SNP say there won’t be an independence referendum, and have no plans to deliver one, and they oppose the Alba Party’s plan to use the next election as a means of voting for independence, what is Stuart McMillan MSP and the SNP’s plan to deliver independence for Scotland?
Christopher McEleny
General Secretary, Alba Party
