Don’t ditch the facts to make an argument

JC Wilcox makes a common mistake in assuming that the Battle of Culloden in 1746 was part of a long struggle by Scots to separate from England. The reality was very different. This battle marked the sad end of a decades-long campaign by the House of Stuart to reclaim the British throne. The Stuarts and most of their supporters saw that as their only aim, and had no interest in re-establishing an independent Scotland.
Mr Wilcox is also wrong to claim that, since Culloden, “Scottish nationalists” have harboured a “burning hatred of Westminster”. In fact, most Scots willingly embraced the 1707 Union with England. Nationalists remained a tiny and eccentric fringe group until support for Scottish independence began to resurface in the last few decades, for reasons too numerous and complex to address here.
Ian Martin likewise muddies the waters by citing the existence of British goods in Myanmar shops as evidence that Britain is doing just fine as a member of the EU. He omits to point out is the hope among those who support Brexit. That is that such goods will be more in evidence and cheaper due to reduced tariffs once Britain is in a position to independently negotiate trade agreements with other countries, something it cannot do as a member of the EU.
I’m not sure if these observations on British history and politics will be of much interest to the average Nation reader, who may well be more preoccupied with current affairs here in Thailand, but “fake news” and “alternative facts” need to be challenged whenever they arise.
Bryan Lindsay