AS a supporter of the Scottish Government and a member of the SNP since 2013, I became extremely angry at the comments of a Scottish Government spokesman in the article “Dilemma for teachers as pupils strike” (Feburary 12) when he said “we believe climate change is an extremely serious issue” but then went on to say “but we do not encourage absence from school during term time”.

What an absolutely bland, cowardly statement in the face of climate devastation and perhaps the end of all species.

This is not a future issue, it is not an abstract problem, it is happening now. We should be encouraging all people, including children, to demonstrate against the inequities of our economic system and the lack of strong radical, political leadership.

Alan Hind
Old Kilpatrick

READ MORE: Union warns of dilemma for teachers as pupils strike over climate change​

IN the stooshie in the Commons over Ian Blackford being reprimanded for calling the Prime Minister a liar, it is easy to forget that it is Theresa May herself who is a serial and, it seems, completely unrepentant offender (SNP accuse May of telling lies on her deal, February 13).

My “favourite” is her address to the Tory faithful in 2011 when she told them the Human Rights Act had to be abolished. She quoted as a reason that, as Home Secretary, she had been unable to deport an illegal immigrant because he had a pet cat. She actually added that she was “not making it up.” Unfortunately for her, she was. The deportation failed because her own Home Office officials had botched the paperwork.

Gavin Brown
Linlithgow

READ MORE: Ian Blackford accuses Theresa May of lying about her Brexit deal​

CONGRATULATIONS on an outstanding front page headline, (Dear BBC... It’s Question Time – and we need answers, February 13). The BBC is funded by the taxpayers and as such is answerable to them. To include a Ukipper for the fourth time is an affront to the Scottish electorate, who have rejected Ukip and its policies on every possible occasion. Therefore it would appear that the party has friends in high places.

Your question as to whether or not the BBC will issue an apology to the people of Motherwell sadly is irrelevant, as those that make the decisions believe that the Scottish people, for whom they have no respect, are not capable of being insulted.

Only Scottish independence will bring about change at the BBC.

Thomas L Inglis
Fintry

READ MORE: Our questions for the BBC over Billy Michell's Question Time invitation​

I AM dismayed that Michael Fry is still getting away with his constant attacks on the Scottish populace. I gave up reading his column several weeks ago but decided to give him another viewing due to his headline reference to Progress Scotland (Here are three key questions I’d like Progress Scotland to ask the country, February 12).

Nothing has changed in his denigration of those of us who take to the streets in our quest for a Scotland free from Westminster. He has placed Angus Robertson’s Progress Scotland in front of Nicola Sturgeon’s silence over plans for independence without bothering to explore or refer to any possible examination of why this might be. It’s a game of polka, Michael, where you keep your cards close to your chest.

READ MORE: Three questions that Progress Scotland must ask potential Yes voters

His concern over Brexit is more pessimistic than he accuses the government of. He suggests that a referendum would be lost, whenever it might be held, due to his insistence that there is still only 45% of the population in favour of independence. Several polls of varying hues suggest improvements to this figure.

Michael Fry’s use of language verges on the insult in my view. I agree that discussions with No voters needs to be positive, but we do not “rant on about some abstract equality” as he put it. He also suggests that Scottish nationalism is more popular with men than women. To add insult to injury, he refers to the women who do activity support independence as ‘’purple-dyed hectoring harridans’’. If he looked up the meaning of the word “harridan” he might have thought again about his use of language.

Perhaps he should come on one of our AUOB marches this year and he will see differently. Not only a healthy spread of men and women but mothers with bairns as well. We are open to every section of society without exclusion. A hundred thousand of us attended the last rally in Edinburgh last year.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

I WAS interested in the Michael Fry article in yesterday’s National. Regarding the reference to the need for more clarity as to what is involved, I hope I am not the only Scot who does not need all the safety nets and caveats spelled out and copper-bottomed.

In 2014 we had many folk running about like blind mice, “timorous beasties”. Cries of “help ma boab, wha will luik aifter us, wha will gie us siller and a’m feart” abounded. Do people such as that deserve to be anything more than English provincials? Is there any other former nation state on the planet which, when given the opportunity to regain its birthright, would behave as so many Scots did in 2014?

I vote for independence because I am a Scot, for no other reason. I would not vote that way were I convinced it would lead to disaster, but then none but bubbleheads would believe that. I may be a little worse off or a little better off, I don’t care, I am Scots and I don’t like my English provincial status. In my opinion there is too much politics and too little Scottishness in the independence fight. The politics should come later, when we win.

R Mill Irving
Gifford, East Lothian

I AM writing to point out that the Picture of the Day (February 13) is not a coal tit and a blue tit but a great tit and a blue tit. I am sure you have had many letters commenting on this. Every day I have great tits, blue tits and coal tits feeding at the same nut feeders at the same time.

Enid Williams
via email