THE Conservatives’ record subsequent to June 2016 is lamentable.

Most members of the Government campaigned passionately to remain in the EU, honestly or not. That is now irrelevant, and we are where we are. The negotiating team consists of ex-ministers from both sides with the PM as the chief, herself an enthusiast for Remain. It is inevitable that the baggage they carry cannot be discarded. The full composition of the team is not public knowledge, but it ought to be. Their decisions will affect our lives more dramatically than a mere change of government and the numerous about-turns made by the Tories brings not only their conviction but perhaps more so their competence into question.

There is more than ample reason to refute their claims of a strong economy. Consider the necessity of food banks, the attack on the disabled, the rape clause, the bedroom tax, reliance on zero-hours contracts, the growth of personal debt, loan-shark interest rates on personal borrowings. Their claims of a stable government fare no better. With a referendum decision and a Tory majority in the House and after an assertion that an election was harmful and unnecessary, we were saddled with that divisive decision in the middle of the local elections. Constant repetition of “a strong economy and a stable government” is pure spin. It is simply untrue.

The issues important to each part of the UK outwith the EU have not been prioritised, nor have we been given any indication whatsoever of the timescale envisaged, nor of the responsibilities of each negotiator. We had our vote 12 months ago and the departure has been triggered. That is the full extent of our detailed knowledge of our position. Again, this is spectacularly not good enough, reflecting in reality the inability of the PM and her team to manage this difficult situation inflicted on them by the rueful judgment of the previous Tory government, and by David Cameron.

We have been emotionally referred to as a family of nations. This is laughable and another example of pure spin. Each of our families deserves its vital and peculiar interests accommodated, but there is no indication that any effective attempt is being made by Westminster with its usual arrogance to achieve anything approaching this requirement. The negotiation of the UK’s exit from the EU provides the proof.

In the 12 months of inactivity since the referendum, there has been more than ample time to do two things. The first was to recognise that England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have individual problems. The second was to identify the representative of each so that they can be physically present in the negotiation process. Neither happened, are we are left with the bland assurance that our PM can and will look after us all. We are not privy to the PM’s decision tree but from government statements issued, behaviour in the House, from ministerial pronouncements and their respective past records, we can be certain that the families’ concerns have been allocated a very low priority. In the Brexit negotiating team there is not a single member who represents his devolved administration’s government or assembly, while the chief negotiator is the PM herself, who it is well known campaigned so enthusiastically for a Remain result.

We are being short-changed, quite deliberately and cynically for political reasons, and we should not let it happen.

On June 8 we have a chance to make our voices heard, our feelings known, and it must surely be taken, to demonstrate again and clearly that we in Scotland will accept neither the sacrifice of our ambitions or aspirations for the short-term interests of any of the three parties currently jockeying for position, nor the never-ending heavy-handedness of Westminster.

John Hamilton
Bearsden

‘THERE is far too much tolerance of extremism in our country” proclaims Mrs May— who has openly expressed her willingness to “press the button” and burn millions with Trident.

She, of course, as a devout Christian and a vicar’s daughter, is obviously a sensible and moderate politician, providing strong and stable leadership in these difficult and challenging times.

Unlike the bearded weirdo Commie extremist Jeremy Corbyn, who has reservations about the ethics of mass murder, or the separatist and divisive Nicola Sturgeon, who supported CND even before she joined the SNP, Theresa May can be relied on to do her patriotic duty, protect the UK, and Make Britain Great Again.

By selling lots of arms to Saudi Arabia, which kill thousands of children in Yemen, she keeps us safe, and makes billions of pounds in lovely profit. What’s not to like? This way, her beloved Union will last till Hell freezes over — or comes to earth in a blinding flash.

This little island is the second largest exporter of killing machines (weapons) in the world. Untold thousands of women and children will die, but the Masters of the Universe will make a fortune. Those Islamic terrorists are bungling amateurs when it comes to the killing game.

On Thursday, when we put our cross on the ballot paper, let us remember what an inspirational leader we have in Theresa May, and her branch manager Ruth Davidson, and vote accordingly, for our country’s sake. You know it makes sense.

Brian Quail
Glasgow

G. HOWIE’S letter exposing the myth that Britain possesses its own independent nuclear deterrent brought back to me an uneasy moment from my past when during my training in the Royal Air Force I was asked to write an essay on that very subject.

With some trepidation, for my career might have depended on how it was received by the supervisory staff, I decided to tell the truth! Namely that it was neither British, independent nor a deterrent, given the minor influence it could have on the world stage.

It is a tribute to the intelligence and honesty of my senior officers that my argument was accepted without demur and they didn’t kick me off the course!

So it is not the military who persist in this expensive folly. The professionals are well aware that scarce finances could be much better spent. It is the ambitious politicians and the gullible public who are still obsessed by this fantasy of world power.

Peter Craigie
Edinburgh

A VERY impressive piece by Henry McLeish in The National on June 3 (What is the point of voting Tory in Scotland?).

He sees correctly that Ruth Davidson’s more playful and colourful populism has revitalised a tired, poorly organised and out-of-touch conservative party in Scotland.

He thinks that any vote for conservatism will be misconstrued by Theresa May.

Mrs May is good at being misconstrued; she called this election, mainly to defer negotiating with the EU on Brexit which as we all know “means Brexit”.

Having done this she had another swipe at the “benefits”, cutting free school meals (in England and Wales), social care, and dropping the triple lock on pensions.

She somehow managed to forget that the “grey vote” might not be pleased, and that the power of the “grey vote” is that they vote.

Mr McLeish quotes Lord Hailsham’s use of the phrase “an elected dictator”, which he found particularly apt for someone both populist and authoritarian.

He is particularly alarmed at the inclusion in the Tory manifesto of “a public consent clause for any future referendum in Scotland”. He regards this clause as both sinister and dangerous.

Mr McLeish feels that the Tories want Scotland to do as it is told, not what it wants; voting anything other than SNP risks that outcome.

He speculates that Ruth Davidson must decide where her loyalties lie; I have no doubt she will come down on the side of Greater England.

Jim Lynch
Edinburgh