Dear Orkney News,

One of the main issues of the December 12 th General Election, is, of course, Brexit. This, in turn has given voters a chance to reflect on how the chaos of the last 3.5 years of Tory Brexit has arisen.

The LEAVE the EU campaign, led by Boris Johnston and Nigel Farage, was to a large degree based on lies and misinformation. Even today, it is difficult to take anything the Prime Minister says at face value. This lack of trust in the UK Government, internationally, has resulted in a large devaluation of the Pound and a reduction in our economic performance. Alone, among Political Leaders, Boris Johnston has failed to appear at Leaders Hustings to justify his stance. This tells us everything we need to know, in the face of an Andrew Neil grilling on his grasp of events.

Clearly, Boris does not want a second E U Referendum, given the dubious nature of the first.

The time has come to reverse the brutal austerity of the last twelve years, the damaging effects of Universal Credit, with its 5 week waiting period. Those with lowest incomes, the, young, elderly, and disabled have paid the highest price while the richest people have enjoyed tax cuts and become richer. They did not benefit from the bailing out of banks.

The Election is important to everyone, of all ages throughout the UK. Locally, we have all received the usual deluge of LibDem papers, leaflets and letters, with the usual dubious claims. Most of these, I received, in the past 2 weeks, did not even mention the main issue, Brexit, which the LibDems tell us they oppose; maybe more strongly, in England.

The SNP has been strongly opposing any form of Brexit, since 23/06/16. Clearly, our existing EU deal is better and less damaging than any alternative deal, on offer. Meanwhile, the Labour neutral view on Brexit is unconvincing. It is difficult to be neutral on the biggest and most divisive issue in the past 74 years.

The major and most urgent issue of all is of course, climate change, rising carbon dioxide levels.  Rising sea levels are particularly bad news for our low lying coastal areas, in the years to come.

Sadly, the Climate Change emergency, along with many other urgent UK issues, have been on hold, at Westminster, during the past 3.5 years of UK Tory Brexit chaos. Boris even wanted to shut down Parliament to prevent discussion.

Brexit, has of course many consequences, for Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland and Gibraltar along with the rest of UK. People in Scotland are increasingly aware of the successful well governed small countries, which surround us.

Large scale devolution of powers, including independence, has worked for, not against them.

Locally, Robert Leslie, SNP Election Orkney & Shetland Candidate, with his detailed knowledge of the main issues facing us, has been a breath of fresh air, during the present election campaign.

 JOHN MOWAT , Orkney

There are 6 candidates standing in the Orkney and Shetland Constituency to be held on Thursday 12th of December.

David Stephen Barnard, Independent

Alistair Carmichael, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Coilla Anne Drake, Scottish Labour Party

Jennifer Fairbairn, Scottish Conservative and Unionist

Robert Fraser Leslie. Scottish National Party (SNP)

Robert Watt Smith, The Brexit Party

Letters can be sent to: fiona@theorkneynews.scot