MICHAEL Gove looked like a starstruck teenager meeting a fading celebrity during his interview with Donald Trump. Despite Trump’s assurances that a free-trade deal would be quickly negotiated, people should be very sceptical.

Trump’s business model has been based on high-risk investments mixed with bombastic hubris and self-assurance. His list of failures is impressive: Trump University, Trump Airlines, Trump Magazine, Tour-de-Trump, and Trump the Game have all gone under as well as four bankruptcies.

These have left many small investors penniless yet Trump always emerges unscathed with his reputation for business acumen intact.

The Tories may wish to bend over backwards to insist the UK’s much vaunted “special relationship” with the US remains intact, but there is no indication that Trump views the UK as a critical ally. In reality, the Brexit vote has severely undermined the UK’s use-value to Washington and therefore its continued ability to punch above its weight on the world stage.

Brexit was achieved because a group of dodgy politicians promised all sorts of ludicrous inducements. They never spelled out in detail what these were. Unlike the independence referendum, there was no White Paper. This was then mirrored by Trump in his election.

In her book the Shock Doctrine, Naomi Klein shows how economic crises are used by the ruling class to force through unpopular measures.

This is exactly what the Tories are planning with a hard Brexit. Millionaire Chancellor Phillip Hammond is suggesting that Britain will become Europe’s tax haven. Of course, tax cuts for the rich mean spending cuts and tax rises for everyone else.

Tory Cabinet Minister Priti Patel wants to abolish all employment protection and Jacob Rees-Mogg suggested lowering environmental and safety standards to those of India.

Theresa May is a willing participant in this economic vandalism. May was serially incompetent as home secretary, promising to reduce immigration then presiding over its largest ever increase. Like Donald Trump, May isn’t prepared to listen to those with more experience who have a different opinion.

It’s difficult to fathom how, given the coming chaos, anyone can still say Scotland is best served in the United Kingdom.
Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee

SO Donald Trump thinks Brexit is a “great thing” and the UK was “smart in getting out” – proof if it were needed that the UK leaving the EU is a terrible mistake and that voters who believed the lies of slippery millionaires were very foolish indeed.

It is embarrassing to reflect on the fact that Britain’s example – of gullible voters manipulated by clownish men whipping up a fear of “others” – may have helped shape Trump’s successful presidential campaign.

However, I can agree with Trump on one thing. He states that “countries want their own identity”, and not to have their interests ignored by the more powerful partner in a union.

Perhaps, then, when Scotland is successful in achieving its independence he will commend this as another great thing, and praise the intellect of the people who voted for it.
Kelly McDonald
Falkirk

I’M not sure why The Donald is making such a fuss about “draining the swamp”.

All he has to do is lean forward, reach between his ankles, hook a finger round the golden chain and pull out the golden bathplug. Job done.
Ian Duff
Inverness

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Uranium transport from Wick presents serious risks

I REFER to the news item headed “Airports firm soaring with record year” (The National, January 14), which reported on the record year in passenger numbers announced by HIAL (Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd.) One aspect of HIAL’s activities which is not mentioned is the upgrading and use of a very small airport – Wick John O’Groats – for the transport of 750kg of highly enriched uranium by giant US Air Force Boeing C-17 Globemaster cargo planes to the US. The first of several loads left the airport on September 17 last year and a further 12 transports are planned for 2017.

Despite £8 million of public money being spent by the NDA (Nuclear Decommissioning Authority) on upgrading the runway and loading areas, the Sunday Herald’s environment correspondent Rob Edwards recently reported that “the airport is in dangerous breach of runway safety limits, according to documents released under Freedom of Information law”, which HIAL has denied.

In addition, the flights are having to fly from Wick to RAF Lossiemouth so that they can then take off with a full load of 90 tonnes of fuel and the nuclear casks weighing several tons, as Wick Airport is 1712ft too short for a fully loaded plane, which according to its makers Boeing requires a 7700ft runway.

Interestingly, when the planes reach the US they are forbidden to fly overland with this dangerous cargo and have to land on the east coast and transport the cargo to its destination in South Carolina by surface transport.

Highlands Against Nuclear Transport (HANT) regards these transports as posing unacceptable risks to the public and the environment. In the event of an accident they could be catastrophic for human life and industries such as agriculture, fishing and aquaculture.

HANT staged a demonstration at Wick Airport just after the first flight and has received support for its campaign from councillors in all the islands authorities, MPs and MSPs as well Nuclear Free Local Authorities, KIMO (International Local Authorities environmental organisation) and Friends of the Earth Scotland.

HANT would urge anyone with concerns to write to the NDA, HIAL, their MP and MSP. There is more information on the HANT website (hant.co.uk) and Facebook page.
Tor Justad
Chairperson, HANT

I’M amazed that recent polls showed women over 55 were against Scottish independence (What we know about Yes and No voters ... and how it can help us move forward with indyref2, The National, January 14).

Who do they think has made them work longer for their pensions.? Clue: it certainly wasn’t Nicola Sturgeon or the SNP. Wonder if any of them are members of Women Against State Pension Inequality?
Mick Diamond
Address supplied

LIKE Vonny Moyes, I think that sex education should be about more than biology, but I disagree with her conclusions (Children have a right to be taught about sex, The National, January 16).

When sex education was introduced into Scottish schools, I was halfway through my teaching career (yes, I am that old!). I welcomed the move because, in my naivety, I thought it would explain to children not only how babies were conceived, but also the importance of being married first before you engaged in sexual intercourse, in order to ensure the best start for your own babies.

I was appalled when I realised that sex education, as it was interpreted, consisted of telling children about contraception and how to avoid having babies.

The implications for marriage have been devastating as it has become irrelevant to many people who change their “partners” as they feel like it.

Vonny’s idea of teaching children to engage in unusual sexual practices will make matters worse instead of better.
John Kelly
Edinburgh