I PARTLY agree and partly disagree, with Ms J Cherry in respect of moving on from Brexit, as it’s not a done deal for Scotland, merely a Tory/Ukip/Brexit Party intermission, resultant upon the failure of the Unionist “promise” to remain in the EU for more than a generation.

That said, it is clear that any proposed accession negotiations (de-Brexiting) must be clear as to the extent of Scotland’s aspirations, as we cannot follow the Mr David Davis UK route of negotiation along the lines of not saying what the desired outcome is.

Fishing will be on the agenda of course, and inshore limits for different types of fishing, limits on super trawlers, quota sustainability based upon fishing boat port of origin, drone surveillance, quota limits for third countries, means of preparation and export, etc, must all be developed as a workable and plausible landing zone for negotiation.

Working groups or similar from Scotland’s fishing communities all need to be arranged, their ideas developed and reported upon and then proper national consultations taken forward. It would perhaps be useful to have the input of some EU fishing communities also involved throughout this process.

The question of the origin of any fishing infrastructure, boats, fixtures, transport, safety, etc, becomes an economic resilience question for the sustainability of any Scottish fishing fleet, given that tariffs/charges/regulation may be applied to Scottish fishing or parts of Scottish fishing, in or out of the EU, given that rUK has chosen the No-Deal Brexit route. Like austerity, a No-Deal Brexit is a political choice.

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So, Brexit is not done, merely an EU membership hiccup, at least for Scotland, but a new normal will be required, for fishing and so many other essential activities. The question is, just how soon can we realistically start preparing a Scottish centric “oven-ready” plan of re-accession to the EU, whilst still in a Covid-19 pandemic.
Stephen Tingle
Greater Glasgow

THE current attitude of the SNP hierarchy does not inspire those whose priority is independence. OK, the Government has worked hard on the Covid-19 situation but that has disguised lack of initiative on independence going back before the pandemic.

It looks like they’ve run out of ideas and have latched on to Gender Recognition Bill and the Hate Crime Bill as an attempt to be seen to be doing something while really just killing time until the 2021 campaign kicks off.

Where’s action on the Werritty report or wildlife protection or agricultural tenancy reviews, to name just a few things more needing their attention.

It could be that Brexit has got them like a rabbit in headlights just as the First World War took the Irish Party’s eye of the ball hundred years ago.

Maybe the SNP will end up in the same state as it did as people will look for other political means for their aim, viz independence. If that happens the SNP will only have themselves to blame by their apparent inaction on the party’s aim.
Drew Reid
Falkirk

MAY I comment on a couple of letters in Thursday’s National? Harry Bickerstaff is quite right in pointing out the need to reduce CO2 emissions when he complains about the proposed car cavalcade but fails to take his argument further.

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This will be a one-off event I believe, but what about the thousands of visitors who come to Scotland and drive the length and breadth of our country? Should they be forced to use public transport? I agree with Harry that there are probably many unnecessary car journeys taken, but I think a more pragmatic approach is to encourage the use of low- to no-emission vehicles as soon as possible.

I am always slightly suspicious when a letter writer claims to be a “strong supporter” of independence as your anonymous correspondent does. They advise against Scotland adopting a presidential constitutional system, but there are various types of presidency. The USA has an executive one where the president has enormous power, or a constitutional one as in Eire. We are supposed to have a non-political constitutional monarchy, but that didn’t stop the Queen endorsing Mr Johnson’s illegal proroguing of Parliament, or of passing comment during the 2014 referendum.

The Scottish people will decide what kind of constitution we want after independence.
Richard Walthew
Duns

THE £14 million that Finance Secretary Kate Forbes is giving the hospitality trade to tide it over the quiet season is a pittance, in my opinion.

I worked in management for 23 years in a 78-bedroom superior four-star hotel and between October and March, which was our quiet season, staff were never laid off in return for their efforts over the busy summer. To keep the hotel open would require at least nearly £1m pounds over that six-month period – heating alone was a horrendous cost. £14m is a mere drop in the ocean and will not prevent many hotels from shedding staff and closing.
Sally Mannison
Galashiels