IT was disappointing to find one of the new Tory MSPs has written to the UK Foreign Office, questioning Scotland’s international presence.

I call it disappointing as even before devolution in 1999 Scotland had a Brussels office, which was established under these same Tories. This presence was developed under Labour and the Liberal Democrats and has been continued since 2007 by the SNP.

Now there is a network of offices around the world that promotes Scotland, its economy and tourism.

Scotland House in Brussels, for example, acts as the eyes and ears of the Scottish Government, Scotland Europa, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International.

READ MORE: Tory under fire over attempt to ‘diminish Scotland’s standing’

It is an effective platform to manage diplomatic engagement, economic engagement and cultural promotion. Scotland is one of more than 300 regional and sub-state authorities, including 28 from Germany, 21 from Italy and 18 from Poland. And non-EU states like Norway are also represented by six regional offices.

Indeed, Scotland has a smaller international presence than many sub-states such as Bavaria, Flanders and Quebec. In addition, Denmark and Belgium give the Faroes, Greenland and Flanders officials parity of esteem, and work together with central government, recognising the important role they play.

While everyone else is doing their best to promote themselves, it is bizarre, but maybe not unexpected, for the Tories to try to undermine Scotland’s ability to do so.

Alex Orr
Edinburgh

HAVING attended a few independence marches it is uplifting to be amongst a large gathering of happy people all hell-bent on achieving the same goal.

The one aspect I find sobering is the cry:

“What do we want?”
“Independence.”
“When do we want it?”
“Now.”

This does no more to achieving independence than does a child who loves animals saying I want to be a vet. Work hard toward becoming a vet is the only route for that child toward achieving their goal. “We want independence” is no different. All those who want it must make constructive effort toward achieving it.

Cameron Crawford (Letters, May 31) is realistic and absolutely correct in his assertion that there are no shortcuts to persuading a solid majority to back Yes.

READ MORE: There are no shortcuts to persuading a solid majority of voters to back Yes

We need to present categoric evidence that Scotland really can survive on its own two feet, that poverty can be eliminated, opportunity expanded to entirely new levels at home, and that we can take a responsible role in international affairs both with our neighbours and those further afield.

SNP representation from Holyrood and Westminster and from ALL other factions within the Yes movement need to put their collective heads together and produce the evidence, and distribute it among the marchers yelling for independence to distribute among their friends, neighbours and fellow citizens. Gain their support then demand a referendum with a weight of support likely to achieve our long lost independence.

Tom Gray
Braco

I WAS puzzled by the rather confused letter from Winifred McCartney in Monday’s National. Was it very wrong of the prince to meet Broon? Prince William has met many people in his peregrinations about Scotland. Does Ms McCartney suggest that he should only meet with proper people, dedicated Nationalists, Kate Forbes, Angus Robertson, right-thinking people?

Ms Slater seems to have inside information regarding what the Queen had to say in conversation outbye Crathie Kirk. “Accidental on purpose” – how does she know?

I am a dedicated Scottish nationalist, you could say rabidly so, possibly more so than Ms McCartney. My detestation of the British Empire knows few bounds. I am also a staunch monarchist.

R Mill Irving
Gifford, East Lothian

ANDY Anderson (Letters, June 1) demands with concern that the SNP’s accounts be opened to the membership for scrutiny. He will be relieved then to know that in common with every other party, the SNP’s accounts are published on the Electoral Commission’s website for not just the membership but quite literally anybody in the world to go and have a look at.

Declan S Blench
Glasgow

WHEN will D Ross realise Nicola is not too blame for the virus?

He’s like a wee persistent terrier snapping at Nicola’s heels during question time at Holyrood. His monotonous voice and mundane questioning never changes. When will he ever learn? Long time passing! How Nicola consistently keeps her cool is beyond me. He should surprise us one day and change his tact. He would increase his following if he did.

Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus

TRIALS on the life of dogs might be barking up the wrong tree but at least it gives us geezers the possibility of an extended lifeline. The study was published in Nature Communications after analysing data from UK Biobank on hundreds of thousands of people. Now 500 dogs will be the guinea pigs of anti-ageing trials. They hope that within as little as three years a formula will be developed that can double a dog’s lifespan, and if that works it could be our turn. In human terms that would mean living to 150. The bad news is, they say that it wouldn’t be possible to live any longer. Never say never, I say.

However, living a century and a half shouldn’t just be about extending life. More importantly, before it’s time to shuffle off that mortal coil we should all make sure that life has been lived to the full with little regrets. Who knows, we might even live long enough to see an independent Scotland.

Mike Herd
Highland