Brexit deal a final betrayal of Scotland

Sir – Regarding the Brexit transition deal struck by the Tory Government to extend the Common Fisheries Policy ( CFP) into 2021.

This highlights how indifferent the UK Government is towards the Scottish fishing industry, an industry, devolved to Holyrood, that voted almost en masse for Brexit and as a consequence returned, particularly in the east and north-east, a number of Tory MPs.

The expectation was that the Tories would get back Scotland’s territorial waters on the first day after leaving Europe.

The impact of this latest decision puts Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the UK at a crossroads, and in clear perspective.

The decision is hollow and patronising to the hardworking members of the fishing community, and the final humiliation of those who voted Tory, of devolution of our Parliament and, if they are able to see it, of our 13 Tory MPs in Scotland, who are now seen as gullible voting fodder for the Tory party machine.

This is the litmus test for a Tory unionist in Scotland.

The greatest humiliation must surely be that of Ruth Davidson and David Mundell. It is obvious they have no influence at the Tory top table.

As a consequence, I firmly believe that right now Scotland has no effective representation within the UK Government structure.

Our Westminster MPs have no real powers. The SNP MPs are ignored and given little respect while our Labour MPs have disappeared into the UK Labour machine.

Add to this the most worrying development – the Tory Government’s clear strategy in the short term to weaken the devolution settlement, and in the long term, in my view, to dismantle our devolved parliament.

How long can we as a sovereign nation with a long, proud history continue to operate within a politically bankrupt UK with an uncertain Brexit future?

How long are we prepared to suffer the indignity, humiliation, indifference and derision from our so-called equal partners in the UK?

The treaty of union is broken. We all, particularly union voters, have a lot of heartsearching the next time we vote in any Holyrood or Westminster election.

There is a lot at stake. Dan Wood. Charles Melvin Gardens, Kirriemuir.

The broken promises to Scottish fishing by the Brexit transition deal has put Scotland at a crossroads and is the litmus test for union voters, a correspondent argues.