CHRIS Deerin knows perfectly well – or if he does not, then he has no business to be writing for a national newspaper – that the Scottish independence movement bears no relationship to the racism demonstrated by recent events in America (“The coarsening politics of identity is dragging us down”, The Herald, August 15). A main reason, though not the only one, for our seeking independence is, precisely, that we in Scotland have no wish to be associated with the xenophobia which is a mainspring of the Westminster Tory party’s policy, and which has been the force behind the monumental folly of Brexit.

The Yes movement, and its main political arm the SNP, aim to establish a Scotland which is free, or as free as is humanly possible, from prejudice and discrimination: an aim which will assuredly never be realised while we are in thrall to the narrow isolationism of Theresa May and her crew.

Derrick McClure,

4 Rosehill Terrace, Aberdeen.

I WISH to say thank you for the publication of Chris Deerin’s article. It was in my opinion a very brave and honest comment, and in many ways the reason I still buy a printed paper.

The article caused me to think back to a few months ago when I was on a trip to Warsaw, and found myself on the wrong side of a police cordon at a rally which seemed to appear out of nowhere, as the tourists were quietly pushed back by the police who walked in at the end of the flag bearers.

Realising I was now in with the press and TV, I thought that I would just wander and take some images. Being a fair-haired Scot I suppose I might have just got away with the whole Aryan identity thing but I received some hostile stares. The armbands, the black shirts and ties, the young boys and girls, and the presence of a crucifix, was very unnerving.

I spoke with a young photographer, to ask him what was going on. He said it was “White Poland” and “this is the song that is being sung in Europe right now”. There was no trouble, but I would have to admit (like Mr Deerin) I did start to feel my own hostility rising. The day before I had just been at the Warsaw Uprising Museum, and on the way to the old town that same day I stopped to photograph the remaining buildings which still show the bullet holes on the render all around the windows.

John Lynn,

Flat 2/2,

3 Broompark Circus, Dennistoun, Glasgow.

I’M afraid I cannot share the optimism of some of the contributors to your Letters Pages. I feel that those who assert we can win through in adversity, as we have in the past, and survive Brexit as we did two world wars, the deprivation of the Great Depression, and the more recent banking recession – and come out of it stronger and more prosperous – have got it wrong My reason for this belief is what used to be called in my youth “lack of moral fibre”. It pervades all levels of our society.

It afflicts the highest echelons of UK Government, where Westminster is infested with duplicitous, self-interested, arrogant shysters: I don’t think I need to name names, the aforementioned Brexit campaign, its origins and the unsavoury events which have ensued, provide ample examples of those I have in mind.

It is present in the board rooms of banks and corporations whose so-called leaders have caused untold misery to thousands upon thousands who are paying for their despicable behaviour, and will continue to do so for years, while they seem to be above the law. It is seen every day in the lack of respect shown to our public buildings and spaces (even, sadly, our beautiful countryside) by litter louts and graffiti sprayers.

It is seen in the thugs and morons who indulge in public drunkenness and worse, including knife crime, criminal assaults and gang rampages. It is also seen in those parents who fail to provide a moral compass to their children and are too ready to blame teachers and social workers for the resultant anti-social behaviour.

It is often said that all that is needed for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. Where are the good people, and how can they be galvanised into action? Cicero was by no means perfect, but he got it right when he said that honesty, probity and a sense of public service were essential qualities needed by a politician. His modern counterparts have a lot to learn from him.

Douglas McKenzie,

Crawhill Lodge, Westfield, West Lothian.

NICOLA Sturgeon, sniping from the sidelines and talking down the UK in her usual Pavlovian manner, has labelled UK Brexit Minister David Davis's recent Brexit plans as “daft”. Ms Sturgeon demands the UK remains in the single market and customs union, breezily ignoring our democratic will expressed in last June's UK-wide vote. Or possibly Ms Sturgeon's problem is with David Davis himself rather than his proposals? Alex Salmond does, after all, speak very highly of Mr Davis. Perhaps the UK Minister is tainted by association?

Martin Redfern,

Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh.

A PROPOSED bridge festooned with trees: £37 million spent before the project is cancelled. A bell and tower: tens of millions of pounds. Crossrail 1: tens of millions of pounds spent. Crossrail 2: tens of millions of pounds proposed. A royal palace: hundreds of millions of pounds. A parliament building: thousands of millions of pounds.

In the UK, we have been informed, there is “no money tree”. But in London, as has been usual all my life, there is a money forest.

GR Weir,

17 Mill Street,

Ochiltree.

IF the Tory would-be kingmakers who aim to replace the floundering Theresa May with Edwardian throwback Jacob Rees-Mogg are not members of the PG Wodehouse Society then I'll eat my exalted hat and seek refuge in Blandings Castle.

Fortunately the “Honourable Member for the early 20th Century” has denied leadership claims and we may be spared nanny as his Jeeves (“Rees-Mogg denies leadership claims and states support for Prime Minister”, The Herald, August 15). Truly, if one didn't chortle one would exercise the old lachrymal glands.

Pip pip.

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.