Sir, – Allan MacDougall (January 13) states that the democratic vote by the UK to free ourselves from Brussels and become an independent country was a “rude salute” to the 27 members of the failed organisation that is the EU, and that we are going “out of Europe”.
Mr MacDougall is entirely wrong.
Outside of the EU, Britain’s relations with other European countries will be honest, cordial, business-like and without rancour, but with a secure frontier and an effective border force.
Supporters of popular movements against the EU political class already number millions in Greece, in France, in Sweden, in Hungary, in the Czech Republic, in Slovakia, and in Germany itself.
Their number is growing daily.
They want to be in Europe, not controlled by a European superstate, not have Europe changed for ever by mass migration from countries whose values are alien, and to have economic growth in place of stagnation.
We are ahead of the curve. Already the UK economy is showing the 27 member states a clean pair of heels.
Why so-called Scottish nationalists want to be governed by a foreign power is something which has still to be explained.
William Loneskie. Amulree.
9 Justice Park,
Oxton,
Lauder.
A lack of grasp of Brexit debate
Sir, – Allan MacDougall (January 13) accuses Clark Cross of misunderstanding issues associated with Brexit.
However, I would suggest that it is he who is lacking understanding in that Brexit involves the UK leaving the artificial political construct that is the European Union rather that the UK leaving Europe as he states.
The geography of Europe will not change and the UK will continue to interact and trade with other European countries and UK residents will continue to travel to and from other European countries.
The main differences are that we will not be paying vast sums to be ruled by the unelected officials of the European Union and we will have control over our own borders.
GM Lindsay.
Whinfield Gardens,
Kinross.
EU fails to learn lesson
Sir, – Allan MacDougall misses the point about the lack of courtesy shown to our Prime Minister by EU leaders and officials.
This is precisely why we should leave.
When the population of a country such as Britain feels that they are better off out of the EU, the constructive course would be to welcome Mrs May and discuss the reasons for that decision, and try to learn from them. But they wish to keep their heads in the sand.
What Mr MacDougall refers to as the pompous Conservative attitude is understandable.
When the truth and the facts are being used, as opposed to the fictions of a parallel universe in which many politicians exist, it often comes across that way.
Malcolm Parkin.
Kinnesswood,
Kinross.
End worship in state schools
Sir, – In his letter (January 14) Philip Kearns asks why I don’t engage my society, Secular Scotland, in planning its own school where religious observance (RO) would not be a meaningful activity. Ironically, I’m not sure of his meaning.
If he means a school where RO would be an activity, but not a meaningful one, that would clearly be pointless.
If he means a school where RO would not be an activity at all, state funding would not be permitted under present legislation, which we oppose.
To save time, I shall explain that what we ideally want is for the law to be changed and prayer and worship removed from the state education system because it is not educational and does not require or merit public funding.
Failing that, we’d prefer pupils to actively choose it rather than be presumed believers and enrolled by default.
We pursue change on a national level and have enough to do in campaigning for it without trying to start a school.
That would not be an answer to a national problem, as it would not help pupils at other schools.
Robert Canning.
Secular Scotland,
58a Broughton Street,
Edinburgh.
Antarctic glacier threat is real
Sir, – Mr Clark Cross, one of your correspondents, recently commented on statements by Professor Adrian Luckman, leader of Swansea University’s MIDAS Project which is investigating the effects of warming climate on the Larsen C floating ice shelf in the Antarctic.
Professor Luckman is reported to have said that there is no evidence linking the rift to climate change but that it does fit the overall warming picture.
Mr Cross says that Professor Luckman’s statements “will have put global warming theorists into shock”.
However, I think it highly unlikely that those who accept global warming would react in such a manner.
The release of this iceberg from the Antarctic does not change the facts relating to global warming or the evidence for the influence of mankind on this.
It is floating ice, it will not raise sea levels but Professor Luckman has pointed out that the consequences of the break-off might be the ice shelf collapsing in years to decades.
Glaciers behind it could flow out to sea and result in an increase in sea level.
Isla Browning.
23 Braehead Avenue,
Edinburgh.
Cash could be better spent
Sir, -Firstly, my apologies to Margaret Gibb if she takes offence at my comments following on from her letter, Enlightened Approach (January 12).
I fail to see how in this day and age, after many years of expert research, that the issue of a baby box to new parents can in most cases prevent infant cot death.
Yes, it is a good gesture to provide those who lack the resources with blankets, clothes and a very early months bed, but does it need to be issued to every new parent in the land?
No doubt many will be pleased to receive this resource, but I would not be surprised if there are many who consider this to be somewhat condescending and a further lure towards SNP support.
Like Derek Farmer, I too consider this to be yet another cheap ploy, where instead, a good proportion of that cost could be sent in other directions within the NHS or benefits budgets.
Geoff Bray.
Heather Croft,
Letham (Angus).
No surprises in spying row
Sir, – Given the hysteria over Russia’s alleged hacking of Hillary Clinton’s unguarded emails, the US bugging of Angela Merkel’s phone in 2013 appears to have been forgotten.
Yet if that’s how the Blessed Obama’s National Security Agency treats his allies, why should he complain when The Vlad does something similar to a self-confessed enemy?
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.