EUROPEAN Brexit negotiators, seemingly more mindful of the fragile and recent nature of the Irish peace process than their UK counterparts, have consistently guaranteed that there will be no border posts or customs posts between Ireland and Northern Ireland. To the chagrin of Brexiteers, Prime Minister May has conceded this fact. This implies that Northern Ireland will effectively stay in the single market and that is why I, as a Scot, am a little envious!

In contrast, Scots have a lot of work ahead to keep our place in the single market, or better still, the EU itself. Around two in three Scots want that outcome and we should get busy as we are now in dire danger of crashing out.

The fact that all of the island of Ireland is probably OK in terms of single market membership is very encouraging because there are many small nations around northern and western Europe who are either in or closely aligned to the EU. We would be very well advised to join their numbers rather than sharing in the impending isolation of the UK. An EU blanket will surround the UK when Brexit day dawns (now set at 01/01/2021). All Scotland must be aware that we can, if we actively pursue it, elect a European rather than an isolated position – part of a Nordic/Celtic comfort blanket of EU membership.

Pro-Europeans should be pushing very hard for Scots to have their own say on the EU. We must, as part of a rearguard campaign to retain membership, highlight that Europe is changing for the better and Brexit is not even slightly hampering that upward progression as so many hopeful Brexiteers had predicted.

Overall, the 21st-century enlargement to 28 member nations is going better than many had predicted and the euro itself is settling down into a major global currency, potentially a rival to the US dollar as the default world reserve currency of choice. Indeed Russia now holds more euros in its reserves than US dollars. As a direct result of the EU’s rise, Brexit stands less chance of succeeding than it would have done, say, 20 years ago. Also, the rise of the euro means that an independent Scotland has a ready-made, local and viable alternative to sharing sterling if we choose independence. Conversely, sterling is less attractive.

Brexit is shaping up to be bad for Britain but not so bad at all for the EU which – shock! horror! – doesn’t seem to need us much after all. Little Ireland, with a following wind, could do rather well out it too.

Well, Scotland, what about us? The stability of Europe or the chaos of Brexitannia? In our heart of hearts, we must know who’ll be ruling the waves then.

David Crines
Hamilton

WORRYING times for the PM as Scottish Conservatives threaten to bring her government down over the transitional deal on fisheries. Where is their loyalty? Surely we are not seeing Scottish Conservative MPs abandon the sinking ship of the UK Government’s Brexit shambles?

Those threats have not come about overnight or as a result of ongoing transitional deals, they have come about due to the false promises from Brexit campaigners and Conservatives in the north-east of Scotland who said “come out of the EU and we will save the fishing industry”, just like the promises made during the 2014 referendum: “vote to stay part of the UK and in turn it will secure your place in the EU”!

If this threat from the Scottish Conservatives has any substance, then surely their 13 MPs in Scotland along with their Scottish leader must go on to demand a seat at the Brexit negotiating table for Scotland before any other transitional deals are made that will result in detrimental effects for Scotland.

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk