Sir, – Your correspondents, Messrs Brown and Cookson, (October 22) appear to have a difficulty understanding democracy.
Before the last Scottish parliamentary election, the SNP manifesto made it crystal clear that Scotland being dragged out of Europe against its wishes could prompt a second independence referendum.
Now Mr Brown may not have noticed but Scotland voted in Ms Sturgeon with a percentage of the popular vote unmatched by any political party in Western Europe since the Second World War.
In spite of voting almost two to one against Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson and Brexit, this country is now having Brexit imposed on it.
Quite how keeping to an election commitment, fighting to protect the rights of Scotland, trying to prevent the clearest wishes of the Scottish people from being trodden underfoot, and raising the possibility, not of imposing independence on Scotland but giving all our people the chance to vote on our future is putting “democracy under threat” escapes me.
The vast majority of Scottish voters have for decades been against the policies imposed on them by right-wing governments at Westminster, governments elected in spite of the majority of UK voters being opposed to them.
We are currently ruled by the Tories even though UK voters only gave them 36% of the votes (and 84% of Scotland voted against the Tories) at the last UK general election.
This situation is the one that is chronically undemocratic and in spite of the repeated whining of Mr Brown and Mr Cookson, one that we will, quite democratically, deal with next time we get the chance in a referendum.
K Heath.
Cortachy.
Kirriemuir.
Scotland not an EU member
Sir, – Many nationalists, such as Beverley Burns (October 21), speak of Scotland being forced out of the EU.
Scotland has never been a member of the EU so this is misleading.
The UK – of which Scotland is a part – voted to leave, and this vote was almost entirely based on immigration fears.
As immigration scarcely affects Scotland, it is logical that the trend of UK citizens living in Scotland would be to vote to remain in the EU.
Malcolm Parkin.
Gamekeepers Road,
Kinnesswood.
Mrs May should make a u-turn
Sir, – Theresa May told the EU summit she wants “a strong UK as a partner of a strong EU” but the other 27 clearly see Britain as a feckless wrecker determined to leave both sides weaker.
Replying to this banality, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel observed: “Before they were in, they wanted many opt-outs. Now they want to be out, with many opt-ins.”
According to the Bank of England, the pound is at a 168-year record low against the dollar, which neatly sums up the outlook for the UK economy in the likely event of a hard Brexit.
Mrs May may claim there will be “no second referendum” but the only way to avoid this looming train wreck is for the British people to decide they want less immigration – but not at any cost.
The British Election Study found most Leave votes were protest votes and other polls show increasing numbers believe free movement may be a price worth paying for staying in.
As regards u-turns, Mrs May should ignore Margaret Thatcher and recall the great economist JM Keynes who said: “When somebody persuades me I am wrong, I change my mind.”
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
The real deficit in democracy
Sir, – When faced with the possibility of Scotland’s MP numbers being reduced from 59 to 53, SNP MP Angus Robertson complained that in Scotland we have a “democrat deficit”.
Does he not recall how many times here in Scotland we have voted since 2014? And with local elections to come next year, I’d suggest most of us are heartily sick of exercising our democratic franchise.
Mr Robertson’s attitude shows a problem not with a “democratic deficit” but democracy.
The aim of redrawing constituencies is to make them more even in terms of voter numbers so, in effect, creating a fairer system for each voter.
But Mr Robertson is more concerned with preserving the SNP’s power base of Westminster seats.
The aim of the boundary changes is to save money: £66 million over a parliamentary term. That this comes at a time when SNP MPs’ expenses are under the spotlight should surely be welcomed.
Does Mr Robertson really think boundary redistribution represents a democratic deficit?
The democratic deficit that bothers most Scots is his party’s refusal to accept the result of the 2014 referendum.
Martin Redfern.
4 Royal Circus,
Edinburgh.
Come clean on nuclear testing
Sir, – It came as a surprise to me when the Prime Minister stated that those in power were not willing to step up to the plate in response to the dreadful accident at Aberfan.
It is more than 60 years since the Ministry of Defence used British service personnel in their experimentation with nuclear bombs.
These people have never received an apology, or compensation, for the medical problems that ensued.
Now that the Prime Minister has made these comments regarding the Aberfan disaster, is she now prepared to open up the vaults to reveal the truth of what happened during the nuclear test experiments and apologise to all those concerned?
Dave Whyte.
73 Blackcraigs,
Kirkcaldy.
Emissions can’t be controlled
Sir, – The futility of mankind’s expensive efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions is best shown by war.
The weapons and transport required create emissions.
Wars cause destruction of the infrastructure. Rebuilding requires cement, bricks and steel which create huge emissions.
The green brigade thinks that a few wind turbines and solar panels will save the planet.
Vegetarians suggest that fewer cows emitting methane would do the trick.
Others want a return to the days of horse and cart. Some claim birth-control would be the solution.
Controlling global warming is impossible especially when those responsible for 80% of global emissions are building even more coal-fired power stations and drilling for shale gas.
Clark Cross.
138 Springfield Road,
Linlithgow.
UK is our major single market
Sir, – How tiresome to listen to the rhetoric of the SNP concerning the EU single market.
The single market that is of most benefit to Scotland is the UK to which the major part of Scottish trade is directed.
When will the SNP inform us on both sides of the argument instead of the continuing one-sided approach designed to fit with the ideology of this political party?
If it claims to be working for all of Scotland, and not just for it own supporters, is it too much to expect that it starts telling the truth?
Derek Farmer.
Knightsward Farm,
Anstruther.