Brexiteers in the lion’s den

Sir, – In response to your correspondent, Martin Redfern (Courier, May 7), I must correct some falsities. The only real gamble conducted in recent times was the EU referendum. I must remind him the Scottish people voted 62% to 38% to remain in the European Union. Secondly, instead of his claim that “Ms Sturgeon will persist in using Brexit as a justification for Indyref 2”, the First Minister is rightly honouring the manifesto the SNP were elected on – the mandate is there.

Of the new powers he claims will come to the Scottish Parliament, key controls over farming, fishing, food labelling and public procurement will be held by Westminster for up to seven years.

That is totally unacceptable and, coupled with the recent revelations about the UK Government’s harmful immigration policy, adds to the already extensive list of reasons for Scottish independence.

The jobs at stake from a Hard Brexit, according to the Fraser of Allander Institute, number around 80,000. If your correspondent wishes to tell those 80,000 people why their jobs being at risk is a good thing I would encourage him to do so. Wages would fall by as much as £2,000 per person, and Brexit would cost the economy as much as £12.7 billion a year by 2030. I will point out the obvious – that this is a bad thing.

And if the economic hit of Brexit wasn’t enough, we’re likely to be trapped under an increasingly authoritarian UK Government that is intent on pursuing the most damaging and despicable policies, such as the “rape clause” and the “hostile environment” immigration policy. No such policies will ever be voted in by the Scottish people.

Scotland currently is a caged lion. The circus troupe (May and her outof-touch cabinet) are intent on reducing the cage size, the amount of food it gets, the activities the lion gets to do, and how loud it can roar. Do you blame the lion for wanting to roam free? Lloyd Melville. East Garden Cottage, Duntrune.

The minimum pricing of alcohol will have some benefits no doubt, but just as the Americans found out when Al Capone came into the picture, there are serious nonfinancial prices to pay for the benefits of national temperance