SO now we hear Donald Trump wants UK planes to become involved in his North Korean folly by asking them to spy for US forces. Well, during his free-thought press conference he let slip the name of the game with regards to Chinese involvement. He said if China did more, he would look favourably on trade deals with them. Trump sees everything as a business opportunity, no matter what the situation!

If he applies the same principle when talking to the Maybot – complying with his blackmail means “wonderful trade deal” – she will bite his hand off. Watch how suddenly Saint Theresa’s principles disappear overboard faster than the Titanic’s ship’s cat and it’ll be “We will be with you whatever” all over again.

The Westminster Government must not be allowed to legitimise this fool’s dangerous game of brinkmanship without Parliament being recalled for a debate and vote. The Scottish Government should express Scotland’s abhorrence to any such involvement simply to allow Trump to bolster his ego and ultimately try and deflect the attention away from the Russian investigation.
Ade Hegney
Helensburgh

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Persuasion, not exclusion, is the way forward

J McDONALD wrote in support of earlier correspondent Lorna Campbell’s proposal to exclude incomers from the next indyref ballot (Letters, August 12). McDonald cites the example of an “English” B&B owner telling German tourists that if there was to be another independence referendum, it would be lost by the Yes side just like the first one.

Instead of writing to The National after this bit of unintentional eavesdropping, I would have cleared the old throat, paused in my devouring of the full (presumably Scottish) breakfast and offered the following viewpoint: “Mine kind host and most welcome European visitors, pardon me for interrupting, but I fervently disagree with the opinion just stated.

“The next referendum will result in a clear victory for the independence movement. We are more organised and determined than our opponents, whose main leaders are all gone to lucrative pastures new. Their tired arguments will be seen as rehashes of the disinformation which was demonstrably shown up for what it was following the last referendum.

“Of course, you, mine host, could be correct in your prediction but so might I. Without fear or favour I will state this view as long as I believe it to be true. I’m sure you’ll agree to my right to have and state this opinion just as I fully endorse your full freedom to express yours” ... then wind my neck back in and proceed with said breakfast.

Lorna Campbell and J McDonald need to remember this. “Incomers”, as they call them, will most definitely vote in the next indyref when it comes around. Nationalists must have the arguments to counter their and others’ reluctance or disinclination to see Scotland rid itself of Westminster rule. If we fail with our newer residents, then we risk failing too with native-born Scots who can trace their ancestry through time immemorial.

We need to gently but persistently persuade as many as is humanly possible, including our children and grandchildren who are still too young to vote, of our fully developed vision – a practical, achievable and broad agenda for a future confident, independent Scotland – in short, a vision they can buy into.

Scotland wouldn’t really have much of a tourist industry without the welcome former residents of other countries who own and staff our hotels, B&Bs and other tourist attractions. Other sectors of the Scottish economic landscape benefit in exactly the same way. These incomers provide living evidence of Scotland’s diverse, ever changing culture. Instead of trying to alienate them, and I don’t think that is too strong a way to describe removal of the right to vote, let’s just win them over. In my grandmother’s early adult life, she was denied a vote.

As Cornton Vale prison closes to be replaced by a new facility with space for only 80 inmates, the result is that only a handful of Scottish women will soon be without the franchise. Progress indeed.

We must win the next independence referendum with good, reasoned argument. There is no need to exclude whole sections of our Scottish population. Time it right and we can rely on virtually 100 per cent of our EU nationals and their 16 and 17-year-old offspring living, studying and working here to vote Yes. Now that is progress, progress towards the fair, inclusive Scotland we aspire to.
David Crines
Hamilton

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with J McDonald when he says that only people born in Scotland or who have lived in Scotland for at least 10 years should be allowed a vote in any future Scottish independence referendum. I am English and live in Dumfries and Galloway where hearing a Scottish accent these days is becoming something of a rarity.

I would be more than willing to have my current right to vote in a future referendum removed if this was applied to every English person who has moved to Scotland. Why? Because, when I moved to Scotland 20 years ago, I brought with me my English political views based on my south-east of England experiences.

Having just arrived, I voted against devolution (to my shame) because I did not understand the experiences of many Scots in Scotland, nor the full extent of England’s stranglehold on Scotland’s ability to truly thrive.

However, after 10 years living here, my views completely changed. I joined the SNP and worked tirelessly in support of independence in the years preceding the 2014 referendum.

Not everyone who moves up to Scotland from England will change their views after 10 years – maybe because, like some Scots I know, they regard Scotland as merely a cultural identity not a country. But at least after 10 years, they should have invested enough time in Scotland to better understand the issues facing Scotland and therefore make a more informed choice.
Peter Jeal
Dalbeattie