THERESA May did her best impression of Tony Blair. When he made the case for Saddam Hussein having weapons of mass destruction, Blair made many bombastic proclamations and assertions of Saddam’s guilt.

Like Blair, May stated that because Russia could produce the chemical similar to the one used in Salisbury, they must be guilty (UK hit back at Russia over spy attack, The National, March 15). May produced no actual evidence, due process and the presumption of innocence has yet again been thrown under the bus. Anyone asking for further evidence and not merely assertion is denounced as a dupe or a traitor.

In a further redux of 2003 the media dutifully repeated all Blair’s lies and opponents of the Iraq War were marginalized, insulted and silenced. Later all those critics who said that Blair was not telling the truth about Iraq were vindicated. However, the lessons have not been learned. Then as now warmongering is being used to put the UK on a rightward trajectory.

The measures announced by May against the Russian state are part of an international drive by elements in Washington looking for a drive to war. This would drive humanity to extinction.

No mention is allowed to be made of the Tories’ millions of pounds in donations from Putin cronies. Or Tony Blair’s defence of Vladimir Putin’s actions in Chechnya in 2001, comparing it to Nato action in Afghanistan. Or David Cameron asking Putin to intervene in the Scottish independence referendum or the UK’s role in touting itself as a destination for Russian oligarch money.

Theresa May is a weak and ineffective leader. She is presiding over an utter mess of Brexit. Time after time she proclaims, in her monotone shrill voice another “step” she will take toward a final settlement with the EU, but her “steps” are always ones the Eurocrats had stated outright non-starters. They have said this for at least a year.

May has not yet grasped that the position of the EU Commission has always been a steadfast “take what we offer, or get nothing”. She continues to believe the delusion she is in a position to bargain with the steadfast Eurocrats who long ago set her adrift.

Relinquishing EU membership will greatly increase trading costs with EU countries, with no compensatory economic outcomes in sight. Of course, these economic consequences may be offset by political advantages stemming from Brexit, but the Tories have not identified, concretely, any of the latter.

Under the Brexit paralysis May has used the Russia crisis to shore up her weak and unable government.
Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee

TODAY is a day of heavy heart as I contemplate my continued membership of the SNP as they seem to now applaud the Russian media witch-hunt. It seems in the SNP leadership is now just as complicit in siding with the Tories in matters of grave international concern as Labour were during the referendum.

Theresa May’s blaming of not only Russia, but Vladimir Putin himself, as culpable for the attempted murder of a former Soviet agent and his daughter is in complete breach of all international protocols. The fact that the British say they know it is the Novichok chemical agent that was used clearly indicates that the British also know how to produce it.

Indeed, any number of sources could easily produce it, including the US. To instantly blame Russia using the phrase “highly likely” and give it 36 hours to confess it’s guilt clearly demonstrates there is a far more sinister propaganda agenda at play here and Russia is being openly provoked.

Russia has cooperated fully in all aspects of established conventions for investigating such attacks. It is the UK Government who are not following conventions or supplying Russia with samples of the chemical agent which Russia has repeatedly requested. There has been no formal request by the UK Government other than the “confess or else” ultimatum.

To see Jeremy Corbyn jeered in the House Of Commons by MPs, including SNP for quite rightly questioning the complete lack of substance, evidence and adherence to international conventions on the part of the UK Government was quite frankly disgusting. This entire country is at the mercy of media moguls and it appears that the SNP is now just as mainstream as the rest of them in this regard.

It comes as no surprise that the UK Government is now attempting through Ofcom to shut down RT, which is the only alternative news source to Rothermere, Murdoch and the BBC. Very convenient that this also happens right before the Russian elections and the World Cup Tournament don’t you think?

I expected so much more from Ian Blackford and Nicola Sturgeon. Alex Salmond is so sorely missed in the House Of Commons on issues such as this.
Graeme Goodall
Buckie

AS we enter the new grey war and France, an important ally, has to be dragged unwillingly into premature non-tactical condemnation of Russia (outwith the rules of the chemical weapons convention) just as Theresa May was wrong-footed again by Boris Johnson’s premature statement ... isn’t it nice to know that we have the entirely inexperienced, gormless and squeaky Gavin Williamson at Britain’s defence helm.

Gav’s response to current difficulties “go away and shut up” certainly had an interesting effect on me.
Amanda Baker
Edinburgh