Laughing stock

There is something remarkably heroic ( if totally blinkered) in Douglas Cowe’s statement that the United Kingdom is “the greatest, most respected country in the world” (Letters, 1 March). I’m not sure where Mr Cowe gains this impression, but if he lifted his eyes to opinion from around the world, as our UK Government makes a shambolic mess of of possibly the worst decision this country has ever taken, Brexit, it is clear that it’s the UK which is the laughing stock.

Mr Cowe’s solution to all Scotland’s financial problems is to end devolution, which is as improbable as it is nonsensical. He would have us returned completely under the control of Westminster, where the NHS in England is being significantly privatised and performs worse in the key target areas than Scotland. He would have us have a police system like England and Wales, which has lost 20,000 officers. His comments about “regime control” and the nature of “nationalism” betray an attitude and mindset which is out of touch with the reality of modern-day Scotland.

Mr Cowe says that “closing the parliament” will give us unlimited funds and will heal the divisions in our society. Does he seriously believe that the almost half the population of Scotland who want to see this country independent, would see that as a positive and unifying measure? Fortunately, the ultimate destiny of this country will be decided by its forward-looking young people and not by a generation looking back and pining for a Utopia which never was.

GILL TURNER Derby Street, Edinburgh

So, in the SNP’S proposed Holyrood EU Withdrawal Bill, Nicola Sturgeon shows her true colours.

Under her leadership, her party is to attempt to pass illegal, in the view of Ken Macintosh, Holyrood’s presiding officer – and unnecessary – constitutional legislation. It has been repeatedly made clear, most recently by Cabinet Office minister David Lidington, that the vast majority of the 111 disputed devolved powers will ultimately be returned from Brussels, via Westminster, to Holyrood. Yet SNP’S Brexit minister persists in referring to a “power grab”; it seems his intention isn’t to seek agreement with Downing Street but to provoke a constitutional crisis.

That a small number may be retained by Westminster to preserve the UK internal market is unacceptable to the Nationalists. What does the SNP care that around 65 per cent of Scotland’s trade is with the UK? Their raison d’etre is always to undermine and weaken that relationship – apparently irrespective of the price paid in Scottish jobs and standard of living.

A Scottish EU Withdrawal Bill will be vulnerable to legal challenges by the Supreme Court and so is likely to have questionable validity.

With Downing Street and Holyrood now close to agreement on “returning powers”, this illegal legislation is, once more, about manufactured grievance and Ms Sturgeon’s relentless attempt to aggrandise her role beyond its purely domestic remit.

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh

I am pleasantly surprised by Theresa May and her robust response at Prime Minister Questions that the EU Draft Withdrawal Treaty was exceptionally unfair to Britain – perhaps as a committed Remainer, she is beginning to see the EU for what it is, an archaic dictatorial organisation that is determined to punish Britain and British people for voting Leave.

There is no need for a hard border between Ireland and Britain. The Common Travel Area of 1923 clearly states that this is an issue between Britain and Ireland and this is yet another example of EU meddling. Since she came to power this is the toughest stance I have seen her take.

However, she now needs to have some backbone and put her tough words into action and leave the EU in full with a No Deal. And she will be backed by 17.4 million people.

GORDON KENNEDY Simpson Square, Perth

Theresa May says the Scottish government’s Continuity Bill is unnecessary (Scotsman, 1 March) but she should realise that there would be no need for this if, during 20 months of negotiations, the UK Government had respected the Scotland Act and allowed appropriate amendments to the UK Withdrawal Bill in the House of Commons. Tellingly, Theresa May didn’t answer when she was asked in the House of Commons this week if she saw the four nations of the UK as equal partners. When she spoke of British Law rather than English Law and Scots Law, it further illustrated her mindset.

The Continuity Bill is essential to protect the Scottish Parliament’s powers, not drafted to advance independence or stop Brexit, as the 1988 Scotland Act is absolutely clear that everything not specifically reserved to Westminster under Section 5 is automatically devolved to Holyrood.

The proposed Continuity Bill is not illegal as, apart from being judged competent and valid by Scotland’s senior law officer, in Wales – which doesn’t have the so called “strongest devolved parliament in the known universe” – a similar Welsh Continuity Bill was approved by its Presiding Officer.

Economically and constitutionally, the Tory Brexit chaos is unravelling by the day and, whatever solution is found regarding the Irish border, the UK cannot leave the EU as a one-nation Britain.

FRASER GRANT Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh