Chute to score

Nobody seems to have noticed how the whole philosophy of Brexit runs completely contrary to that of our most famous

poet, who in one of his masterpieces wrote: “For a’ that, and a’ that, It’s comin’ yet for a’ that, That man to man, the world o’er, Shall brothers be for a’ that!”

Sadly, this concept seems to run at loggerheads with the desires of ‘little England’ MPS.

Not one Tory MP, from north or south of the Border, has expressed a grain of sympathy for the vast majority of Scots, who voted to remain in the EU; six times in proportion to the margin by which the RUK voted to leave. Yet the latter vote is held to be sacrosanct.

This is particularly disap - pointing, but unsurprising, with regard to the Scottish Tories and I hope they will be held to account by the Scottish electorate, in due time.

The problem for many of our friends living south of the Border is, and has been for centuries, that when they go abroad, they see the indigenous residents as the foreigners, and not themselves. Indeed, they have coined many disparaging epithets to apply to our continental neighbours. I will limit myself to one: Johnny Foreigner.

Michel Barnier told the UK two and a half years ago that we could not expect as good a deal out as we had in, and that THE problem would be Ireland. To his credit, this has remained their position throughout, but incredibly, it is still falling on deaf ears.

Scotland, I fear, is plummeting earthward, in an aircraft for which the vast majority of us did not buy a boarding pass.there is but one para - chute and that parachute is independence. To quote our man again: “Wha can be a traitor knave?” Well not many of us will fluff the answer to that!

JOSEPH G MILLER Gardeners Street, Dunfermline

Brian Monteith’s article( It’ s time to shut down May’s awful deal and to reboot Brexit, Perspective, 19 March) tells us to trust the Brexiteers one more time: “What is there to lose by rejecting it again and waiting to see what extention is offered and what the EU’S price is?”

That question suggests that he actually doesn’t know we have anything to lose. As a

business correspondent he should know that the British Chambers of Commerce has said we are experiencing the biggest fall in investment in ten years, and that many financial firms have set up operations elsewhere.

He tells us, “the truth will out” about May’ s lac kl ustre negotiating. In reality the truth will out about the “strong and stable” tough-minded types who have stoked this up, promised that “the row of

the summer” would force the EU to give way to our red lines and, having failed abysmally, left May to be scapegoat.

The tough-minded( poor souls) hate criticism, respond defensively or end up com - pletely in denial. Maybe the public have to take more interest in psychology so they don’t ever become so trusting again.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh

We are witnessing one of the

most egregious examples of democratic outrage as Theresa May plans to return to the Commons for a third time in an attempt to have her withdrawal agreement, which has been comprehensively rejected twice, approved.

She plans to do this through blatant briber y and bullying of MPS who have made it clear that the deal is a poor one for the UK and especially poor for Scotland where, among other things, our particular immigration requirements have been disregarded.

Such is the ignorance of our country, that Westminster didn’t even know that Scotland had four-year degree courses when setting visa requirements. However, I suppose that coming from a government whose Foreign S ecre - tar ydoesn’ tk now the difference between Slovenia and Slovakia, this is to be expected.

Now we see the D UP, the most backward political party in the UK, who negotiated a £1 billion bung to support the Tories and then reneged on the deal, not only being further rewarded financially for their disloyalty, but also demanding a seat at the forthcoming trade negotiations with the EU.

This from a party which garnered ten seats from 290,000 voters. Meanwhile the SNP, with 35 seats from 977,000 voters, has seen its offers of compromise not only ignored, but its repre - sentatives insulted and abused by the boors of Westminster while our Tory contingent sit supinely on their hands.

GILL TURNER Derby Street, Edinburgh