Forth crossings

In her “perfect storm” article on the Irish border, Lesley Riddoch is quick to blame the impasseontheuk government (Scotsman, November 27).

In fact, the UK is strongly opposed to any hard border and has put forward constructive measures to avoid this scenario.

These were of course swiftly swatted down by EU negotiators intent on extracting maximum leverage on the issue, even though similar measures have worked for decades on the Swiss and Norwegian borders, neither of whom are in the EU or customs union.

Lesley goes on to propose an internal UK border which would leave Northern Ireland as an isolated EU dependency.

How can she imagine this would be acceptable to any independent nation?

Her failure to call out the EU on their hardball demands is surely lazy journalism at its best. But as with Ms Sturgeon on the city of culture teacupstorm, how much easier to simply blame the Tories.

RICHARD MANN Denham Green Terrace,

Edinburgh I don’t recall the old Forth Bridge closing for “snagging” in 1964. In those days this was done prior to opening any major construction (‘£1.35bn bridge to be partially closed’, Scotsman, November 28).

The old girl’s five-day comeback as the Southbound crossing is only possible because of the £112m and £5m p.a. spent on its new role as “the world’s most expensive bus lane” (aka breakdown insurance) for 300 public service vehicles a day.

Perhaps “Forth Crossing South” and “Forth Crossing North” should be permanent arrangements. Embarrassing for the SNP perhaps, but it would double capacity, speed up traffic and halve wear and tear on both bridges. Simples! ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row Stonehaven