IAN Thomson and Martin Redfern (Letters, May 18) are clearly not among the majority of Scots for whom the Office for National Statistics has reported an increase in happiness between 2012 and 2017 – unlike the English and Welsh, who appear to be sinking into ever deeper despondency ("Scots are making Britain happier says survey, The Herald, May 18).

Both correspondents’ glumness appears to be related to their perception of the SNP’s "consistent lack of performance in the devolved areas for which they have responsibility", to quote one of them. Perhaps they ought to look at what the professionals are saying, rather than relying on their presumptions. For example, they might find cheer from the Nuffield Foundation’s July 2017 report Learning from Scotland’s NHS (the title says it all). Or from Shelter’s February 2018 report welcoming Scotland’s strategy for building affordable homes. Or this month’s report in the British Medical Journal reporting the General Medical Council’s praise for Scotland’s Reach programme which has substantially increased numbers of medical students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Paddy Farrington,

46 Marchmont Road, Edinburgh.

KENNY MacAskill ("SNP has failed to make this 'crisis' resonate on the streets", The Herald, May 18) suggests that the EU Withdrawal Bill, "is not the talk of the steamie" and he is probably right that constitutional fatigue may be one reason; the public has been living with the Brexit threat looming over them for almost two years now and accept that it is coming as sure as death, but is just as remote. However, another reason why the stand-off between Holyrood and Westminster has been slow to ignite public passions may well lie with the way it has been reported on television, and particularly by the BBC.

We have been regaled with a drip feed of glum-faced reporters announcing that "the Scottish Government has failed to reach agreement with the UK Government" swiftly followed by reminders that the Welsh Government reached a deal, and although not put into words, the inference hanging on the airwaves is that it is all the fault of Nicola Sturgeon and her team for not emulating the Welsh Labour Government and throwing in the towel.

Meanwhile, the Irish Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar has warned that the UK could crash out of the EU without a deal if Theresa May cannot offer a solution which would avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. Mr Varadkar will most definitely not be throwing in his towel. As Prime Minister of a country within the EU, Mr Varadkar has the power of veto and the freedom to make choices that only an independent country can enjoy.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road, Stirling.

COMPARING Scotland's current constitutional crisis with the earlier one in Estonia when its independence was under threat by Soviet troops, Kenny MacAskill remarks: "There are no grannies rushing to protect Holyrood."

However that's exactly what happened on March 23 this year, when several thousand rushed to Edinburgh to surround our Parliament brandishing symbolic wooden shields. The event was held on a working day and a high proportion of the "defenders" were obviously of the granny generation.

Mary McCabe,

25 Circus Drive, Glasgow.

I FIND it commendable that Scottish goods should be labelled as such (Letters, May 18).

I should also like to point out to Martin Redfern that Scotland as a whole is not located “in” Great Britain. Great Britain is a geographic term, referring to the largest island within the British Isles, consisting of the mainlands of Wales, England and Scotland.

Ian Craig,

101 Lethame Road, Strathaven.

MARTIN Redfern is guilty of a piece of sophistry in his letter (May 18) re British whisky.

Just last week I was in the café at St John’s Hospital in Livingston and was surprised to see the sachets of sugar showing the Union flag and the words “Proudly grown in Britain”, and I now have a Union flag on my driver’s licence, first time I’ve noticed that; I find the self-same flag on most items in the supermarket – no doubt preparing for Brexit when Brussels sprouts will be banned.

In a world where trademarks and places of origin are seen as essential guarantees of quality it is vitally important that this is preserved; how Marks & Spencer thought it would get away with that I know not, but I understand this has now been dropped. For Mr Redfern to quote this as the SNP’s “anti-British agenda” is a bit rich; this is not a political point.

Jim Lynch,

42 Corstorphine Hill Crescent, Edinburgh.

IN his article on the “constitutional crisis” Kenny MacAskill fails to address a key point about why the public are not fired up about the claimed power grab, and that is that the Scottish Government is happy for Brussels to maintain control over the policy areas with no Scottish Government influence but not prepared for the same in relation to the UK Government in Westminster, where the SNP is the largest Scottish party

People are not fooled by manufactured grievances by the SNP; they have seen far too many of them in the past as part of that party's tactics towards gaining independence.

Bill Eadie,

8F Hazelden Park, Glasgow.

RATHER than the content of Dr Gerald Edwards's letter (May 17) being "ludicrous" as Iain A D Mann claims (Letters, May 18), what is ludicrous is Mr Mann's citation, in his argument against Dr Edwards, that "in the EU referendum some 62 per cent of those Scots who voted were against Brexit."

Since this Scottish vote was in the context of an overall UK vote – which the Brexiters won – I can only suggest to Mr Mann that he "get a grip" on reality.

Incidentally, to be consistent with my vote for Scotland to remain in the UK, I voted for the UK to remain in the EU; however, a democratic vote decided otherwise. I have no problem with this, but it would seem that Mr Mann does.

Philip Adams,

7 Whirlie Road, Crosslee, Renfrewshire.

THAT the Scottish Government's announcement on targeting childhood obesity ("Sturgeon declares war on junk food in bid to tackle obesity in children", The Herald, May 15) contains not one word about parental responsibility for their children's consumption of unhealthy food is entirely consistent with its determination to arrogate to itself functions and duties which should devolve on parents.

As with the Named Person's scheme, this demonstrates a disturbing and alarming willingness to employ intervention in areas and matters which properly lie outwith the scope and remit of the state.

Duncan Macintyre,

2 Fort Matilda Terrace, Greenock.