JO Swinson ended her UK party conference by demonising the SNP for filling the little heads of the Scottish electorate with dirty underhand SNP anti-austerity nonsense, hiding the SNP desire for Scotland to be an independent nation state.

Such fundamentally dishonest disseminations from herself and the others underpin many of the problems facing the UK, some of which have been ongoing from the times of Thatcher.

Austerity is now so embedded in all aspects of life that easing the headlined symptoms will be insufficient to reverse such a culture. This toxic culture is now socially embedded even within those whose do not consciously support it.

Mr Jeremy Corbyn ostensibly has some radical socialist plans for the UK, which although headline-making leave many of the required fundamental changes unattended.

In part this is because the reversal of 40 years of austerity process is going to require maybe 20 years of detailed and integrated measures to fully implement, even in a non-changing world.

Scotland clearly needs to be an independent nation state in its own right, but also needs a relatively stable, close and friendly neighbour on its southern border. It’s now time perhaps for convention to be put aside at Holyrood, and for the Scottish Parliament to show its tentative support for Mr Corbyn’s proposed programme, as applied to an rUK future, to which an independent Scotland will be its closest and possibly most supportive neighbour in the EU.

Stephen Tingle
Greater Glasgow

I WAS very disappointed to read Willie Rennie’s assessment of the process for Scotland’s independence – “all the chaos of Brexit multiplied and multiplied again”. I am sure I won’t be alone.

It is clear that Rennie has abandoned any positive argument for the Union, his argument now being that it will be difficult; so difficult, we shouldn’t even go there!

What has clearly escaped Rennie’s assessment, however, is that the Brexit difficulties have arisen from an agressive, intransigent, Rule Britannia stance and are entirely person-made. Or to be more precise, Tory-made.

From the off, May’s stance was combative. The EU was painted as “the enemy”. Those who did not agree with “Brexit means Brexit” were demonised. There has been nothing conciliatory in the entire process, and with the antithesis of the Hulk now in charge there is little hope for improvement.

It doesn’t need to be like this. In the 21st century, Scotland and England should be able to live together as good neighbours. We are diverging politically to be sure, but we should still be able to cooperate and manage what is a complex process together. Complex doesn’t need to be chaotic unless that is a stated aim; a deliberate policy to thwart and stall progress.

However, there is something else Rennie seems to have forgotten. Is he not up to speed? Swinson, his newly minted leader, is confident that she will be the next PM! I’m sure Jo will be absolutely gutted to read his assessment of her undoubtedly awesome negotiating skills.

I Easton
Glasgow

THE LibDem conference this week has decided that if they win a majority to form a government at the next General Election, they will revoke Article 50 on day one. The SNP could (and I think should) legitimately take this line because they only speak for Scottish constituents, who voted decisively by 62% to remain. However the LibDems, as a Unionist party, are on much less secure ground in deciding to ignore the 52% majority. No-one (not even the LibDems, I suspect) believe their election hype, but let me leave them their dream and examine their policy.

They assume the General Election will follow a new EU extension while the UK still is a member. They are trying to offer a clear line of action to attract Remain voters, but in this scenario they will be facing the Brexit Party hoovering up the votes of angry Leave voters. Their justification for not going back to the people is that what has transpired in reality was not what voters were promised. How does this outlook sit with their refusal to consider indyref2 here? We have in reality got what we voted for five years ago? Aye right! Their policy would be attacked for being undemocratic and hypocritical and may well result in them struggling to hold on to being the fourth-largest party.

What if the next General Election follows the UK leaving the EU? This is a possibility which must be considered. A slightly different deal might be achieved which would pass in the Common. Failing this, we can’t assume that all 27 EU countries will agree to an extension, especially with the diplomatic discussions on going in Poland etc. Even with an offered extension, are we sure that Boris hasn’t found a way to bypass the new legislation and take us out on October 31 with or without a deal? He would then stand as the “hero” who kept his promise. What would be the LibDem policy in this scenario? How do you revoke Article 50 if we have already left? Explain this one please, Jo.

Campbell Anderson
Edinburgh

ACCORDING to Mr Jack (MP for Dumfries and Galloway), all those who vote for the SNP are guilty narrow-minded nationalism.

The injunction from many years of Sunday school, “take the beam out of your own eye before picking at mottes in other folks” is one he should have a good look at.

If Mr Jack is General Melchett then Ruth Davidson is Captain Darling and the Scottish Tory party members who recognise the dangers of Brexit are Blackadder, which makes Jackson Carlaw Baldrick and Boris Johnson Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St Barleigh.

Brexit will be the 21st century’s equivalent to the Somme, where the only beneficiaries will be the General Melchetts, and Scots and those from England’s northern reaches will be thrown to the dogs in the best interests of the British empire. Sadly it will not be funny for those on the receiving end.

Peter Thomson
Kirkcudbright