Finding the compromise

Sir, – It was good to hear a slightly more positive tone from Nicola Sturgeon after her talks with Theresa May at Downing Street, although her description of what she requires to be happy with the EU Withdrawal Bill needs some deciphering.

The First Minister concedes that some UK-wide frameworks will be needed in relation to the 111 powers returning from Brussels under Brexit, but insists such frameworks must be by consent and not imposed.

That might sound reasonable if only Ms Sturgeon could be trusted to approach this in a genuine spirit of compromise. Instead, the suspicion is that she seeks points over which she would have an effective veto.

Meanwhile last week, in the Westminster petitions debate, SNP MP Martyn Day said he would be happy to block Brexit, and later his colleague, Tommy Sheppard, made it clear that Indyref2 would be triggered if they did not get what they want on Brexit.

With these types of threats commonplace from the SNP’s side, the UK Government will need to tread very carefully to find the basis of a compromise, which so often we have seen the SNP defining as simply getting their own way.

Keith Howel. White Moss, West Linton.

In recent years in the Angus glens snares have been left unchecked and fenn traps used illegally. So it is no surprise people take exception to some of the methods employed to keep a check on vermin