AT a time when it appears that Conservative MPs will vote for a return to union workhouses and child labour, it is interesting to note where the Scottish Tory leader places himself amidst his party’s abrogation of any moral or altruistic responsibilities.

Despite his recent well-publicised clamour for all Scottish pupils to receive free school meals, Douglas Ross abstained in the vote on giving these to English children during the holidays. The revulsion his rank hypocrisy emits in this case is matched only by the genuine anger and distress his vote against reuniting refugee children with their parents produces. Mr Ross clearly lacks compassion, empathy and humanitarianism. He represents a harsh, Dickensian political ideology that is parochial, insular, selfish and elitist.

READ MORE: Douglas Ross's free school meals tweet comes back to haunt him after Commons vote

In 2017 his decision to forego a Commons debate and vote on Universal Credit in favour of pursuing his second career as a football linesman reveals him as a moral coward and dispassionate, self-seeking opportunist. His voting record on human rights, same-sex marriage, the environment and state benefits mirrors that of the extreme right wing of the Conservative party.

For the immediate future our largely right-wing media will paint Mr Ross as the saviour of the Union and the face of mainstream Conservatism in Scotland. He has been on BBC Scotland so often that he will be invited to the staff Christmas night out. Douglas Ross will be repackaged as the face of the modern Scottish Tory party. We should never forget that we are witnessing a desperate attempt by a jaundiced media to try and deceive the people of Scotland. The Tory leader in Scotland is an unimaginative, insubstantial and petty mediocrity who views his fellow Scots with contempt. He is to be ignored or mocked.

Owen Kelly
Stirling

THANK goodness Scottish schoolchildren are not dependant on Scottish Conservative MPs to put hot food on the table! I say this in spite of the new Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross MP campaigning for free school meals for all school children, and as a result of a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday night, which incidentally Mr Ross did not take part in.

This vote was to give schoolchildren in England the same access to free school meals during holiday times as schoolchildren in Scotland already receive as a result of the Scottish Government making £10m of funding available to cover free school meals up to and including Easter 2021.

READ MORE: Free school meals: These Scots Tories voted against the Labour motion

So why did five of the six Scottish Conservative MP (one being the current Secretary of State for Scotland) vote to deny free school meals to poor families in England during school holidays? Are they not listening to their party leader in Scotland? The strain on family incomes is approaching breaking point and the global pandemic looks like being with us all for some time to come, so why did those Scottish Conservative MPs not see it fit for the same provision to be provided to English schoolchildren? Their action beggars belief!

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

MY letter should not be interpreted as a criticism of Ruth Wishart. I share Ruth’s impatience that she expresses in her article (Why I’m done with playing the long game on indyref2, October 19), but let me say thinking with the heart is common in the independence movement, but the primary motivation need to be thinking with the head. (Not that I am suggesting that Ruth is doing this heart-thinking in her piece).

Ruth gives the example of Andy Burnham. Johnson’s government immediately attacked him for political motivations during a pandemic and threatened force.

Burnham is doing what people who elected him would require of him, to defend their health and economic interest.

READ MORE: Ruth Wishart: Why I’m done with playing the long game on indyref2

It must be remembered that Burnham is leader of a city in a region, a vast difference from what we are trying to achieve, which is an independent country.

Macron (on Brexit) and Ardern (on leadership) are leaders of independent countries, a status we are striving to gain.

The unfortunate fact is that our struggle is hampered/restricted bya deadly virus alongside a Unionist opposition and its media, who from the start of the pandemic have seized the opportunity to increase their anti-independence/SNP agenda.

The increase in the polls for the SNP and independence indicates that their actions have not gone unnoticed by our citizens.

I quote from Janey Godley’s article the same day: “There will be nothing left to have independence for, if we all die.”

What I would be interested to learn from those who urge us to do more is, what should the SNP, their government and our movement be doing during this pandemic to advance our cause? Advice on the above is very scarce.

To end: I personally think Johnson’s days are numbered. Already, less than a year into his premiership, he is facing rebellion from a section of his own MPs (although not his Scottish ones, who do what they’re told), And who knows what machinations are happening behind the scenes by the civil service.

Bobby Brennan
Glasgow

SHED a few tears for Ginger (Sad passing of the canine star of the Yes movement, October 21). Delighted to read that, at a public meeting in Crieff, he went out for some relief – on the doorstep of the local conservative association.

This fellow has more fans than the entire ragbag of Tory MSPs and MPs put together. I wonder of they get it? As Don McLean says in his song Vincent, “Perhaps they never will.” No “perhaps” about it.

Joe Cowan
Balmedie