YOUR front page banner headline, “UK Govt rejects Scottish visa plan ... without even reading it” (January 28) is a cracker as it typifies the attitude of the Westminster Tory government towards the Scottish people. I wonder if the remnants of the Scottish Tory MPs will support this stance, bearing in mind that in the recent General Election more than 50% of their colleagues were sacked by the electorate. I wonder if it was because they had become infected by the politically deadly virus “Johnsonitis”?

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The PM’s performance since the election must be sending shivers up and down the spines of Tory MSPs standing for re-election in next year’s Scottish Parliamentary election. Perhaps the Scottish electorate – including our 16-17-year-old young people, who under Westminster rules were disenfranchised for the December election – will decide that there should be a clear-out of all politicians who prioritise the needs of their London bosses over the needs of their constituents.

Thomas L Inglis
Fintry

I WAS disappointed that there was little printed response regarding your first Fact Check. I must say I found it interesting, informative and providing a useful rebuttal to many of the Unionist claims. However, even allowing for your increasing circulation, this information should be gaining wider recognition. Our elected representatives should be using every opportunity to insert some of the facts contained in your excellent publication into speeches and publicity material.

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I understand that the Speaker of the Commons is attempting to limit the length of questions at PMQs to the mop-head of Downing Street. However, it is surely not beyond the ability of our first-class representatives to slant a question containing a positive remark about Scotland. There is a good chance that such an approach would knock him “aff his stoat”, for he is not the great Churchillian orator he thinks he is. When one studies his approach, he has one prepared sentence and then descends into an inarticulate approach lacking in coherence but laden with much harumphing. Usually he has a prepared insult/put-down, but if a positive point was made in questioning I think he might struggle in answering.

Whatever happens, publicity for the Scottish case for independence must be made through positive information, rather than time wasted rebutting the myths and mistruths being spread by the increasingly scared Unionists.

Colin Mowat
Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire

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I AM an active SNP member in Aberfeldy and have an online subscription to The National. I must say I am very pleased with these fact checks you are conducting. It is a sorry situation that Scotland does not have wider coverage in UK news; this kind of fair reporting should widely see the light of day! Thank you for taking this initiative and getting the team together to refute the lies being perpetrated by unfair if not libellous England-centric reporting.

Rudolph Bar
via email

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AS a Remainer, I can’t believe how much I’m looking forward to Brexit Day on Friday, January 31st. This will cement the hypocrisy and illusion of democracy where a minority one-third of the UK electorate – one-quarter of the population – driven by a government elected by just over one-third of the electorate, have been allowed by the UK’s enshrined democratic deficit to impose their will on the majority.

The arguments for Brexit are the roadmap and very justification for Scotland to be independent.

The UK wants to determine its own future? Yes, as does Scotland with its alternative cooperative, internationalist approach diametrically opposed to Westminster’s.

The UK wants to set its own laws? As do Scots, to reflect our more egalitarian ethos and values.

The UK wants to control immigration? As does Scotland, with its differing skills and employment priorities and needs, and welcoming approach.

The UK will be able to maintain trade with the EU after Brexit?

Why would this be different then for an independent Scotland trading with rUK?

The UK can stand on its own feet after Brexit. No different to Scotland then, in a world with more than 118 successful less populated countries with smaller economies than ours.

Whatever arguments are used by Brexiteers leaving the EU, aren’t they all equally relevant to and justification for Scotland leaving the UK? Perhaps the major difference between rUK and independent Scotland is that we Scots will at last be living in a democracy based on respect for all. I support independence because I support democracy.

Jim Taylor
Edinburgh

LEAVING the EU is an act of monumental stupidity, compounded a hundredfold by the breathtaking incompetence with which the process has been conducted. Issuing a commemorative coin to celebrate this folly is a piece of perversity that almost defies belief.

The slogan on the coin, “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” is in flat contradiction to the sentiments which have motivated Brexit and the likely results of it. And now, to cap it all, a popular author calls for the coin to be boycotted, not because of what it represents or commemorates, but because he thinks (though others don’t) that there should be a comma after the word “prosperity”! Talk about the lunatics taking over the asylum!

Derrick McClure
Aberdeen

WE can all remember saving our new 20p coins when they came out for a special occasion. Now the British government are sponsoring a wonderful opportunity for us all to save. There will be a newly minted 50p coin to commemorate the rejection of Scotland’s democratic right. Save them to donate to your local indy group!

Ian Richmond
Dumfries and Galloway