It’s no surprise First Minister Sturgeon was exercising herself over the possibility of border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic (SNP’s vow to Ireland: ‘We will help you fight against Brexit border, News, December 3). Such a thing would be the SNP’s worst nightmare as it would put the final nail in the coffin of a seamless border between Scotland and England in the event of Scottish independence.

The Brexit shambles shows how difficult, and costly, any break-up with the rest of the UK would be. Far from the 18-month, £600m departure of which we were assured in 2014, breaking up the UK would be even more tortuous and costly for Scotland. Our ties are stronger, our administrative systems are closely intertwined and our economic dependence on UK trade is greater. We would have no EU power base backing our cause – just ask Catalonia. And frankly, the rest of the UK would have little sympathy with further constitutional and economic instability.

It is time for the SNP to acknowledge that independence would place our economic future in severe jeopardy. There is no tangible benefit to Scotland by going it alone, merely a serious risk of further austerity.

Carole Ford

Glasgow

How ironic that the arrogance of the ruling English upper class has been challenged by a nation who can remember their leaders being treated to a firing squad (Ireland will squeeze the Brexit lemon until the pips squeak, Editorial, December 3). Peace and a “hard Irish border” mightn’t equate; a “soft border” and smuggling could creep in. “Build a wall and make the Irish pay for it,” would be The Donald’s sage advice.

Common sense suggests that in the final act of the Brexit Christmas panto, Dublin should play the good fairy, wave a wand, save us all a fortune, and oblige the wicked Theresa May to eat humble pie.

Iain R Thomson

Cannich

While all sides have claimed they don’t want to do anything to undermine the Good Friday Agreement, some took the opportunity to score political points off the back of continued uncertainty. It was no surprise to see the SNP seeking common cause with some in the Republic, particularly if they saw a way to portray the UK in a bad light. Last weekend, Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes was quoted as saying the Scottish Government could be “interlocutors” on behalf of Ireland with the UK Government. He must have regretted such a misguided proposal when, following statements from the UK and EU on Monday suggesting some progress on wording on the issue, Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that any deal available to Northern Ireland must surely be made available to Scotland too. Clearly, the chance to make political capital out of the situation means 20 years of the peace process can take a back seat.

Keith Howell, West Linton

ROTTEN BOROUGHS WERE ENGLISH

“Rotten boroughs” were constituencies in England which sent MPs to Westminster even though they had few or no voters to represent – placemen to support the ruling classes – while some large cities in England did not have MPs (Something rotten in the boroughs?, Letters, December 3). The expression “rotten boroughs” is not really appropriate for reference to Scotland/Scottish burghs, even if it had come with inverted commas and an explanation, and as an example of anti-democratic government it is not something to make light of.

Susan FG Forde

Scotlandwell

The idiomatic expression, “rotten boroughs”, was initially used to describe electoral districts in England with few voters, but still with the right to send a representative to Parliament. The 1832 Reform Act did away with 57 rotten boroughs.

The Sunday Herald is correct in its spelling of “borough” with regard to the popular idiom; but in your earlier article (Rotten boroughs: the scandal of sexual harassment in Scottish councils, News, November 26), the expression was used literally, not according to its idiomatic meaning. Thus “burghs”, the Scottish equivalent to the English “boroughs”, should have been used.

David Muir

Edinburgh

EMPATHY IS AN IMPOSSIBLE GOAL

Almost every article by Val Burns includes a reference to the need for empathy (How could anyone pose for selfies in Auschwitz – that sombre, haunted place?, Comment, December 3). She has written about the need to empathise with others in general, “self empathy” and empathising with living creatures. None of these is possible. In the case of “selfies in Auschwitz”, it is education which is lacking, not empathy.

During my mental health nursing training some memorable lectures advised against any attempt at empathy. The arguments were that it's impossible to enter into another’s feelings and any attempt to do so could lead to dangerous outcomes. Further, the attempt to enter into another’s feelings leads to the loss of self, resulting in an inability to focus on the job. I believe in the sympathetic imagination.I am neither a narcissist nor a robot!

Susan Brown

Edinburgh

Your psychology commentator, Val Burns, writes insightfully and infuses much common sense into her weekly column.

Colin Findlay

Dollar

NHS FUNDING IS BEING MISJUDGED

Andrew Whitaker’s article focuses the mind on what priority our struggling NHS can expect from next week’s budget (Finance Secretary: Brexit will herald most brutal budget yet for Scotland, News, December 3). In 2017/18 the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPIC) confirmed a real-terms discretionary budget increase of 1.5% from Westminster (£501m) but the Holyrood budget allocation to NHS Scotland from this was paltry. Audit Scotland effectively concluded in their annual publication NHS In Scotland 2017 that none of that £501m went to our NHS, and that the NHS had “a decrease of 0.1% in real terms from 2016/17”.

The consequences for patients of an NHS funding misjudgement in 2017/18 have already materialised. The Referral To Treatment 18-week target, which matched NHS England’s performance in 2011, is now 10 percentage points lower at 81.4%, and a record 7.7% below the current England NHS performance of 89.1%. When it comes to crucial life-saving and effective early treatment via key diagnostic tests, 99% were completed within six weeks in 2011. That completion rate had dropped to 90% in September 2016, and accelerated downwards to only 81.6% in September 2017. In England the equivalent rate is 98%.

For colonoscopy and cystoscopy procedures, 93% are currently seen within six weeks in England compared to 58% in Scotland (as at September 2017).

The 2017/18 NHS Holyrood budget allocation decision has impacted adversely and significantly on patient care. Holyrood must unpick the misjudgement of the 2017/18 budget misallocation to the NHS, or without ample tax rises, the immediate consequences for patient health will continue to be adverse.

Richard Richardson

Glasgow

FREEDOM OF PRESS AT RISK

I couldn't agree less with Korstiaan Allan about the Stop Funding Hate campaign, pressuring businesses to cease advertising with the Daily Express, Daily Mail and Sun (Retailers need moral courage, Letters, December 3). Other tabloids run occasional immigrant scare stories too, but are excluded from censure. Could it be because they are (supposedly) left-wing, and the holier-than-thou “Stop Funding Hate” campaign is trying to economically hit those sections of the press they disagree with but can't stop readers buying? So much for freedom of the press.

Mark Boyle, Johnstone