IT wasn’t a lie then when Mundell informed us that there was no Scotland-specific Brexit analysis. When he said what he said, it was true: the analysis specific to Scotland didn’t exist. So was it just an oversight when Mundell was excluded from the so-called Brexit cabinet table?

The disunity in the rUK Tories has spread here, with Davidson unable to keep her MPs in line with her. It says something when MPs defy their leader and align themselves with hard Brexit and the likes of Rees-Mogg. None of this would indicate that Tories speak up for Scotland here or in Westminster!

The power that lurks in Westminster cannot be allowed to remain unchallenged. Pressure has to be kept up on the broader picture. The Irish border is not equivalent to dealing with neighbouring London boroughs, no matter the view of Boris Johnson.

Has Corbyn’s slide to a softer Brexit put pressure on May? What chance that Tory MPs seeking a “soft” Brexit could align themselves with Corbyn? Even if this were to happen, how would Labour handle the issue of the devolved competencies that should come here?

Nothing concrete yet, nothing of substance from any pro-Union party. But with her visit due today, does any of this mean PM May could be forced to be more informative or perhaps inclusive and conciliatory towards Scotland? I doubt it. So let’s not expect anything of relevance or worth to us. But May herself and the divided Tory party could all be on a shoogly peg. After all, at the rate this is descending further into farce, Tory seats could be decimated at the forthcoming May local elections in England.

The recent declarations by Davis, Fox, and “others” including Corbyn continue to demonstrate that Scotland should know its place, and stay there; out of sight of negotiations, waiting to be telt, and not our government telling how it should be for us. Westminster references to the greater good for the “country” that they seek to achieve through Brexit will be gained at Scotland’s expense.

More than ever then, the status and rights of Scotland’s Parliament should be sacrosanct. I welcome Scotland’s Brexit Continuity Bill. This ensures our place, position and role in securing our devolved laws. Those devolved competences should come to Scotland and not be diverted. I don’t see the bill as a “threat” to the UK, though that is how it will be spun.

How can it be a threat when it clearly identifies that the Scottish Government seeks to gain the certainty and stability for those who live, work and do business here?

It is what is required at this moment in time for Scotland. It’s called doing the day job for our country, our people, our future. Westminster has ignored us, the government and parliament that we voted in, but they continue to do so at their expense whilst furthering our move to independence.

Selma Rahman

Edinburgh

THE Continuity Bill is a vital piece of legislation. Brexit must not force Holyrood to surrender decision-making power to Westminster.

One particular example is the need to protect the worldwide reputation of Scottish food production from any variation of standards which might be forced on us by a future Westminster trade deal with USA.

Scotland must also assert the right to protect our environment against any such deals, especially in light of continued attempts by companies like Ineos to circumvent the Holyrood ban on fracking.

Just 40 months after the cynicism and lies of 2014, we have a black farce of chaos at Westminster: arrogant, deluded, dangerous idiots driving the whole of the UK into “Nowhereland”. The one who set this all going if course is currently hiding in a very expensive Shepherd’s Hut somewhere exclusive in Oxfordshire.

This is already, right now, a huge constitutional crisis quite simply because Brexit has become an international mess and Westminster is incompetent. Scotland is in real danger of losing vital rights.

Anyone tempted to accept any assurances from the mouths of people like Michael Gove, Boris Johnson or our very own new-age hapless, pathetic Toom Tabard – otherwise known as David Mundell – should beware of the serious dangers ahead and reflect on the quality of their previous behaviours.

Frances McKie

Evanton, Ross-shire