MANY people will share David Crines’s dismay (Letters, November 30) over the poor choice of England and Wales in the EU referendum. And many feel similarly about their preference for Conservative governments, of the red or blue variety, over the decades.

However, it was their democratic right to vote for them, as it was their right, however one feels about it, to vote to leave the EU.

That right should be respected, as should Scotland’s to now pursue a different path.

This is no sudden fork in the road. Scotland and the rest of the UK have been moving in very different directions for a long time.

If I could put it to her, my question for Nicola Sturgeon would be the same as my question to David: what right does Scotland have to interfere in the democratic wishes of another country?

Europe is ready to welcome an independent Scotland after Brexit. The European Parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator, Guy Verhofstadt, has said so in front of a Commons Home Affairs committee. It is time for Nicola Sturgeon to embrace this future and focus on the roadmap to independence.

Jim Daly
Edinburgh

AS one of the 62% who voted Remain, I am very concerned about the result of the parliamentary vote on that ludicrous deal. I hope the MPs who have stated they are opposed to it have the courage of their convictions and vote no. However, I think a number will take the coward’s way out and abstain. The only reason for choosing to abstain is to safeguard their position within the party and not anger the chief whip. On the other hand, if they didn’t have that option they would vote yes for the same selfish reasons, giving a false result. They are voted into government to make difficult decisions, but opt out. They are the first to complain about poor turnouts at elections, but don’t always use their votes. Is it any wonder people lose faith and trust in politicians?

Gordon Walker
Via email

APART from her nausea-inducing St Andrew’s Day message, dripping in insincerity, I see the quote of the day from our beloved Prime Minister is: “I haven’t seen an alternative, nobody has put up an alternative to my plan” with reference to Brexit.

Have her officials protected her from perfidious Albion’s suggestions? If not, it would appear that she suffers from selective amnesia, for surely the Scottish Government submitted a series of documents outlining possible approaches to Brexit? From various statements from her (resigned) Brexit Secretaries – Messrs Davis and Raab – it seems that they were given only limited freedom in their briefs and the Prime Minister seems to have been determined to interfere and be seen as the saviour of her “precious” Union. She seems to think its future would be the result of her supreme ability at negotiation beyond that of normal politicians. It would be her deal, ie her legacy.

As she appears to like (relatively private) press conferences and photo opportunities, might I suggest she hies herself to Croydon Airport Control Tower (which still survives) and waves her agreement above her head proclaiming “freedom in our time” or some other nonsense phrase? It seems her piece of paper is as meaningful as Mr Chamberlain’s at that location in 1938.

Colin R Mowat
Laurencekirk

HAVING read the article written by Pamela Nash which Stewart Ward refers to (Unionists miss point with Saltire argument, December 1) and noting Ms Nash’s references to hunting haggis and Nessie, it’s safe to say that what Pamela Nash knows about our Scottish culture and heritage could be captured on the lid of a shortbread tin.

Gill Turner
Edinburgh

PLEASE allow me the opportunity to correct a reference in your article, “How our front page went viral ... and made a crucial point about press freedom” (November 30), where you complain to the Downing Street press team that: “It was simply unacceptable to block Scotland’s only pro-independence newspaper”. The insertion of “daily” would have made this claim accurate.

The Scots Independent newspaper has been continuously published since November 1926 and remains Europe’s oldest continuously published political newspaper. Admittedly it is only this month that we caught up with the 21st century and are now a full-colour publication with distinguished regular contributions from Christine Grahame MSP, Keith Brown MSP and former MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh amongst many more.

Grant Thoms
Editor, Scots Independent

I HAVE to thank Julie Price for her apology in Friday’s National (Letters, November 30). it was unnecessary but shows that some people in England as well as in Scotland can see through these shambolic visitations round selected venues from Theresa May, accompanied on Thursday by “red line” Davy. To not have the courtesy to inform Gavin Newlands, the MP for the area being visited, was disgraceful, but is symptomatic of how Scotland is regarded by Westminster. Unfortunately the attitude, certainly in government, is that Scotland just has to accept being part of the vote to leave, although more than 60% – and now I believe increasing further in recent polls – back Remain.

Hector Maclean
Glasgow

ANENT Theresa May’s recent wheech of a visit to the leather factory in Bridge of Weir: perhaps she’s planning to have another pair of £1k leather trousers made. If so, she chose the wrong fabric – it’s flannel she’s run out of.

Mo Maclean
Glasgow