Protect Scotland

There are many reasons why we should applaud the four Scottish political parties that stood up for devolution against the UK Government’s power grab. For example, Donald Trump is ready to use trade talks to force the NHS to pay more for its drugs as part of his scheme to “put American patients first”. Alex Azar, the US Health Secretary, has said Washington will use its muscle to push up drug prices abroad, to lower the cost paid by patients in the US. He told CNBC TV: “On the foreign side, we need to, through our trade negotiations and agreements, pressure them”.

After waiting five years without receiving the £160 million London siphoned off from the money Brussels gave the UK in 2013 to specifically address the low rate of convergence payments made to Scottish hill farmers, NFU Scotland doesn’t trust the UK Government to keep their promises.

Michaelgove sparkedanger when he promised Danish fishing vessels access to large amounts of fish in Scottish waters after Brexit, and who will protect Scotland’s distinctive brand recognition once Westminster takes control of food packaging?

Therefore, does anyone really think Scotland’s views will be taken into account on any US trade agreement involving GM crops or chlorinated chicken, or be fairly treated in future funding discussions once the UK Government acts without the Scottish Government’s agreement?

This is nothing like the “near federalism” last gasp promise made by the Better Together parties in 2014.

MARY THOMAS Watson Crescent, Edinburgh Let us be quite clear about this: for the SNP’S ‘’fighting for Holyrood’s rights’’ in the Brexit quagmire, read ‘’pointless posturing’’.

I did expect the unprincipled Greens to follow their unprincipled masters as they inevitably do, but for Labour and the supposedly ultra-pro EU Lib Dems to meekly join those who in reality care not a fig about the intricacies of the Brexit deal is very disappointing. Are they again afraid of the SNP’S favourite attack weapon – the ‘’anti-scottish’’ jibe?

Can’t they see the Snp-green alliance is only interested in pushing anything, anything at all, that may cause grievance and help in their breakup-the-uk strategy?

ALEXANDER MCKAY New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh I am constantly amazed at the ability of our politicians to look at a proposition and see different opinions simultaneously!

In respect of powers returning from the EU we have the SNP getting hot under the collar that not all would come back immediately, and yet at the same time hold a preferred option to remain in the EU which, of course, would mean that no powers would return – immediately after Brexit the SNP would strive to hand all the powers back so that they could once again be part of the EU! JAMES WATSON Randolph Crescent Dunbar, East Lothian