LESLEY Riddoch’s article on the impending eviction of tenant farmers in Arran makes horrifying reading 130 years after the passage of the Crofters Act (History of crofting should fuel fury over eviction issue, November 17). 
I am a long-standing member of the SNP, and I find it inexplicable and disappointing that our government is allowing this to happen and, if Lesley is correct, impeding efforts to help these farmers. I think the Scottish Government owes us an explanation as to why these evictions are happening. I say this with disappointment as I applaud 99 per cent of what they have been doing in the difficult circumstances of limited devolution.
Ian Grant
South Queensferry

I HAVE to take issue with Carole Ford (FM’s criticism of Trump is reckless self-indulgence, The National, November 15).

Nicola Sturgeon is the elected leader of our Scottish Government and, as such, has every right to stand up and be counted and to express her views on behalf of the electorate when it comes to what is right and what is wrong.

To say that “grandstanding on her moral high horse is a self-indulgence we cannot afford” is another way of saying: “Scotland couldn’t care less what you do or say, Mr Trump, as long as you give us the dollars”.

The people of Scotland have moved on from this ideology and now put right before might.

The way in which Nicola Sturgeon has dealt with European leaders since the Brexit vote has gained her and Scotland enormous respect.

Trump is a bully who threatens swathes of social groups across the world and bullies only respect people who stand up to them.

So never fear, Carole Ford, as Nicola’s stance, together with the historical ties we have with the US, will undoubtedly be strongly and positively reflected in future Scottish/US trade negotiations.

Dennis
White Lanark

WHAT’S happening when Carole Ford can put down fellow female Nicola Sturgeon for criticising Donald Trump’s alleged racist, homophobic and yes, misogynist behaviour (Letters, The National, November 16)?

Of course we have to work with other countries, but if their leaders have different values we must never compromise ours. Carole Ford’s praising of “Hillary Clinton’s calibre” while detracting from that of Scotland’s FM because of a gender pay gap which is hardly her fault, is unbalanced.

Many Americans saw Hillary Clinton as a war-mongering establishment neo-con. When she said she supported the shooting down of Russian planes if there was a no-fly zone imposed over Syria, this was too much for families who had lost loved ones in the wrongful invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, invasions she supported and which have led to further destabilisation in the Middle East and further loss of innocent lives.

Amid accusations of racism, homophobia and misogyny, Donald Trump, Carole Ford’s “extremely influential” politician, managed to tap into the anger working class Americans felt towards the establishment.

Because the American media is so biased in favour of the self-serving neo-cons who run America, decent politicians such as Bernie Sanders are classed as nonentities.

Trump was elected because he managed to convince working-class Americans that immigrants and the outsourcing of businesses abroad were the reasons for their plight.

The aftermath of this dangerous thinking is now evident with the eruption of inter-racial violence.

So, how did an accused misogynist like Trump win such big support from women? Figures have indicated that a big percentage were white, non-college educated women who were obviously unimpressed by “Hillary Clinton’s calibre.” This is a class position.

When a working-class woman does not have a decent well-paid job, maybe misogyny is not so prominent on her radar.

The class position was confirmed when even a bigger percentage of white, non-college educated men also voted for Trump.

Jack Fraser
Musselburgh

IN his eloquent letter yesterday, Ian Richmond ends with the statement: “If we remain silent in the face of oppression, complicit in the politics of division, then we deserve no voice in this world” (I am proud to live in a country led by a woman of principle, The National, November 17). Never was a truer word said. Sadly, given that his was a letter of support for Ms Sturgeon, Mr Richmond seems as confused as Ms Sturgeon. She is, of course, correct in her withering criticism of the president-elect across the pond.

What is confusing for simple souls like me is her complicity with regard to human rights abuses in China and Iran.

Condemn Trump, sign memoranda of understanding with the Chinese government – can you see where my problem lies?

Maybe the SNP leadership should ponder Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s statement: “If you get on the wrong train there is no point running along the corridor in the opposite direction.”

Rev John Nugent Wick THE Centre for Policy Studies released a report this week describing how “Free Ports” could supercharge trade once we are free of EU customs regulations and state aid restrictions.

Allowing manufacturers to ship in materials and turn them into finished products for re-export duty-free, Free Ports have been hugely successful in the US; 86,000 jobs could be created.

Dying industrial centres on Scotland’s west coast, which found themselves on “the wrong side” for trade after we entered the European Customs Union, would become commercial powerhouses again, particularly if the UK moves to “the front of the queue” for a trade deal with Trump’s America.

Scapa Flow in Orkney, meanwhile, could become a Scottish Singapore, hosting an international trans-shipment hub which will only grow in importance as Arctic trade routes expand.

Following positive Scottish fishing industry reports, this underlines the world of opportunity Brexit can open up if we embrace change and innovation.

Jack Montgomery
Leave Means Leave