Democracy denied

So, there Scots have it – writ large on the wall in front of their faces: our PM, touring her “united” kingdom in a desperate effort to sell her “best deal possible” to the people (who are to be denied a vote), privileges Scotland with a visit, lasting less than three hours, in the smallest venue handiest to the airport. Reporters are banned and she refuses to engage with the First Minister of our Parliament, who is also leader of the second largest political party in her “precious union”.

How much more contempt, incompetence and denial of democracy can anyone, who claims to be Scottish, tolerate? Only independence will put an end to the deficiencies in our education, health, welfare and cultural potential. I beseech the rogues in our nation: Get Real!

CHARLES EDWARD SHAW

Blairbeth Road Burnside, Rutherglen

The first minister should be glad the Prime Minister has snubbed her. All her interviews since the Brexit debates began, because she is antibrexit, have been like party political broadcasts. Mrs May, whether you like her or not, has spoken out very well in Parliament and has taken on many anti-brexit politicians, one after the other. Therefore I think she would be hard to beat in a one-to-one debate.

JOHN CONNOR

David Henderson Court

Dunfermline Fife

There seems to be some discord

arising between public and political party approaches to Mrs May’s Brexit deal.

Perhaps the most democratic approach would have been to allow the voters in each constituency to inform their MP in a simple yes or no fashion of their preference of how that MP should vote, which would to some extent relieve the member from party pressure. The publicly announced constituency vote could then be compared with his/her actual Westminster action and the MP would have the opportunity to explain to their electorate, if necessary, why they voted differently to the constituency majority preference.

Unfortunately, it is probably far too late for such an arrangement to be made .

(DR) A MCCORMICK

Kirkland Road Terregles, Dumfries

I have a long-held opinion that politicians have never fledged into fully grown adulthood, hence parliamentary debates invariably degenerate into perpetual childish squabbles.

Splendid justification of my opinion is the latest spat whereby Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have agreed to a television debate which the former wishes to be broadcast on BBC whilst the latter immediately counters by insisting on ITV.

DAVID HOLLINGDALE

Easter Park Drive, Edinburgh

Those who held any lingering doubt that the SNP was not a one-issue obsessed, complain bitterly first, find a reason later party, need only look at Mike Russell’s performance when questioned by members of Holyrood’s Finance and Constitution committee.

He admitted he had ‘’merely skimmed’’ the 500-plus page document that he, seemingly within minutes of publication, dismissed out of hand. Why let bothersome facts hold up a chance to reach the Holy Grail?

Then he compared Jacob Rees-mogg to an ‘’alien’’. If an English person had dared to use this kind of language when referring to the SNP, one could only imagine the outrage. The zealots would have been

unleashed and several flagwaving marches would have been held already.

Nationalist hypocrisy would bring tears to a glass eye.

ALEXANDER MCKAY

New Cut Rigg, Edinburgh

The whole Brexit campaign was based on a referendum called by a man, David Cameron, who could not conceive that it might turn out the way it did. When he resigned he was replaced by a woman,

Theresa May, who almost lost an unnecessary election and had no desire to get out of the EU. She embarked on a campaign to please both sides of the debate. An impossible task. She and her supporters think they know better than anyone else and believe their time in charge has given them a greater understanding of what is good for the people. Unfortunately she has now put our country in a chaotic situation with her subservison;

ent attitude to Brussels so that the very future of our country in in doubt. As trade is the most important factor in our dealings with the EU it should have been top of the agenda, not to be discussed in the transition period as is the case now. I doubt if bringing Theresa May down at this late stage would solve the problem considering the position she has put the country in so it may be wiser to accept her deal and trust future leaders will stand up to the EU and release us from its grip.

WILLIAM W SCOTT

St Baldred’s Road North Berwick, East Lothian