Tory contempt

Dr Richard Marsh (Letters, 16 June) complains about SNP MPS walking out of the Commons chamber in protest at the retention by Westminster of important devolved powers from Scotland for at least seven years.

These powers which should come to Scotland under the devolution settlement include highly important ones like fishing, agriculture and food standards.

There were only 20 minutes allocated to debate on the whole issue and David Lidington of the Tory party spoke for the whole 20 minutes, refusing to give way and cheered on by his backbenchers, who laughed and jeered at the SNP protests, one even suggesting suicide.

No Scottish MP from any party was given as much as a single second to speak on this vitally important matter for Scotland. The Speaker did not intervene once.

No wonder they walked out. In the face of such contempt there was no other way of protesting how they were being denied the basic right to debate such an important matter for our future.

JAMES DUNCAN Rattray Grove, Edinburgh

There is no doubt that Westminster allowed too little time for a proper discussion of the effect Brexit would have on Scotland, but what did the SNP walk-out last week actually achieve?

They not only lost five questions about Scotland they were lined up to make to the Prime Minister but they also lost the opportunity to have a proper debate on Scotland and Brexit immediately after PMQS which the Speaker had already promised.

Because it was in Ian Blacktheir ford’s name and he had been suspended, it automatically fell. The stunt may have hit the headlines, but did it really defend Scotland?

HENRY L PHILIP Grange Loan, Edinburgh

I see former MSP Kenny Macaskill is calling on the SNP to adopt Parnellite tactics as used by the Irish nationalists to great effect in the 1880s.

However, the comparison between the SNP and the Irish nationalists is erroneous. The Irish nationalists were campaigning for home rule within the UK. It was Sinn Féin who were more extreme, wanting Ireland to break away from the UK, like today’s SNP.

If the nationalists were to campaign for home rule they would easily win a referendum on the issue. But, given that we already have home rule for Scotland, having another referendum is completely pointless!

BRIAN CARSON

Belmont Gardens, Edinburgh