THE Welsh have nothing to worry about: right now countries are waiting to sign trade agreements with the UK (Airbus future in UK threatened by ‘catastrophic’ no deal Brexit, June 23).

If Airbus leaves there will almost certainly be an influx of companies based in these countries willing to invest heavily in new manufacturing businesses.

Companies will be able to use employment agencies to recruit redundant skilled workers to build up a workforce of self employed contractors, free to work whatever hours they want whenever work is available, giving them fantastic opportunities that didn’t exist under the plethora of EU employment laws. However much will depend on government ministers doing their part by using statutory instruments to rid the UK of so many of these restrictive practices imposed on our workers by the EU during the forty years that ended with Brexit.

To really encourage inward investment they must surely get rid of all the remnants of EU employment legislation such as the minimum wage, working hour directives, masses of red tape, health and safety regulations and make any other changes that they feel might be needed during the post-Brexit period. The Welsh will receive the first of many rewards for their vote to exit the EU.

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

THOUSANDS of independence marchers at Bannockburn. Thousands of anti-Brexit marchers in London. Job losses by the thousand nearly every day now. A lot of people are not happ.y When will our leaders waken up to this? Action needs to be taken now especially to protect jobs. Are you listening Mrs May?

David, North Ayrshire
via text

WALKING in the march to Bannockburn on Saturday I couldn’t help thinking how it could be so much better if it were led by a band playing the March of the Soldiers of Robert Bruce. This was allegedly played for the original battle of Bannockburn and was also used in the fight supporting Joan of Arc against the English. YouTube has several versions of it performed by military bands from Germany and France, but none, unsurprisingly, from the British Armed Forces. There are versions for bagpipes, but they do not credit the performers, so they likewise may be from elsewhere in the world.

Even as an Englishman I can listen to these performances and get a lump in my throat. Perhaps the Scottish Government should accept this piece as the ceremonial national anthem of Scotland, so that it gets an airing and we can all take pride in it. It does not have to replace Flower Of Scotland or whatever anthem sports teams may choose, but for grand ceremonial occasions it is ideal.

Robert Mitchell
Stirling

SO almost 6000 new SNP members. Assuming about £10 a year from each (on average to make the arithmetic easy) assuming some donations, raffle ticket sales, financial appeals and the like. That would look like about £60,000 in “new” income for the SNP a chunk of it going to SNP HQ. How about a radical idea – use it to appoint a co-ordinator/campaign manager for a Yes 2 campaign.

Brian Lawson
Paisley

I AM usually very supportive of our flagship public service broadcaster, the BBC, but recent cases of blatant political bias have forced me to reconsider. The future prosperity of our Scottish nation depends on a relationship with our largest and nearest trading partners and less reliance on trade with an increasingly protectionist America. Why, then, did the comments in the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee by the EU Brexit coordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, receive so little coverage?

In response to a question asked by MP Joanna Cherry whether he agreed with the Scottish Government’s proposals for the UK to remain in the Single Market he said “I think there is no opposition from the European side if that proposal comes to Brussels”.

Reporting Scotland’s only response to this was a tweet from reporter Nick Eardley, which read: “Guy Verhofstadt at Brexit committee says no opposition to @ScotGov single market membership proposals on European side (Of course the big issue is the lack of support domestically ...)”. I have seen no more blatant a case of political bias than the lack of coverage of this statement and the personal prejudice shown by Mr Eardley. Come on, BBC. Get back to your mandate to educate, inform and entertain and away from the grasp of the political elite who think they know what’s best for the Scotland.

Peter Rowberry
Duns

SARAH Smith’s role as BBC Scotland Editor seems a little wanting – her last online post is dated on the 13 June. Presumably Scotland does not rank highly with “our” correspondents or the BBC is filling space with old news.

Veronica Gordon Smith
Edinburgh

ANOTHER spread on “the noble art” in yesterday’s National. Am I the only reader who feels the sight of two men (or women) committing GBH for public entertainment, could be seen as an indication we have not yet achieved the status of a civilised society?

Andrew Sanders
Glasgow

THE World Christian Encyclopedia estimates that currently there are 33,000 Christian denominations. Is there not a certain irony in even four of those, the Church of Scotland, the Baptist Union, the Methodist Church and the United Reform Church issuing a report entitled ‘’Destitution, Discrimination and Distrust: The Web of the Hostile Environment” (Churches hit out over immigration, June 22)?

Doug Clark
Midlothian