Blame yourself

I note that Scotland’s constitutional relations secretary Mike Russell MSP thinks that the UK Government is not interested in the views of the Scottish Government on Brexit (UK ministers “aren’t interested in Scotland, 19 November), but this is an issue entirely of his own making.

Early on in the Brexit process, Mike Russell stated very clearly that the SNP Scottish Government would not be supporting Brexit legislation under any circumstances. This has had the effect of making their position politically irrelevant in that UK; ministers will not waste time in trying to accommodate them because they know that in the end they will say no anyway. Their political energies would be best expended elsewhere.

Like his boss Nicola Sturgeon, who jumped in too quickly in June 2016, it appears that Mike Russell too is politically naive, and the failure of being able to influence events must lie solely with himself or those who devised his strategy for him. Neither he nor his party are players in this issue at present, which is bound to hurt when they see themselves as the only legitimate political voice in Scotland. The much maligned Mr Corbyn at least knows when to keep his own counsel and say nothing.

VICTOR CLEMENTS Taybridge Terrace, Aberfeldy, Perthshire

Alexander Mckay (Letters, 19 November) doesn’t appreciate that during any independence negotiations, a Scottish Government will be united in their focus whereas the UK officials were trying to balance two wings of the Tory party and ending up pleasing no one over the proposed temporary Brexit arrangements, which now appear to be in limbo until at least 2022.

The north-east coast fishermen now realise they are again being sold down the river by the tories as restricting access to waters and retaining tariff-free frictionless access to markets is not what Mrs May’s plan will deliver.

It is not just the Tories who are hopelessly split, as Jeremy Corbyn backs Brexit and Labour still can’t garner more support than the most shambolic UK government in living memory, therefore, Scotland needs to seize the moment to forge our own destiny.

It’s important to realise that self-determination for Scotland isn’t about nationalism. It’s about self-preservation and common sense.

MARY THOMAS Watson Crescent , Edinburgh

If ever one needed a clear example of the persecution complex which afflicts the nationalist mindset then surely the letter from C Hegarty (19 November) would provide it.

From start to finish, this is a catalogue of all the usual nationalist grievances which those of us who are not burdened with that unfortunate malady simply don’t feel. It’s not that we are any less able to understand what’s going on but we just don’t feel that we (Scots) are in any way treated any differently from those in any other part of our United Kingdom.

Viewing every situation through the prism of grievance and grudge must only enhance that sense of injustice which most nationalists carry and I’m so glad that I inhabit an altogether more agreeable Scotland and United Kingdom.

ALAN THOMSON Kilcamb Paddock, Strontian