Angus Robertson touches a raw nerve with Lib Dems over EU - your views

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Angus touches a raw nerve with Lib Dems

Angus Robertson must have touched a raw nerve with Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP over the Lib Dems’ giving up on trying to get back into the EU (letters, January 21).

Sir Ed Davey clearly said on the Andrew Marr Show that “The Lib Dems are not a re-join party” and ignored the fact that a majority of the Scottish public support EU membership.

Now that the Lib Dems have joined with Labour to become a Brexit party, the only way back into the EU is through independence.

It can’t happen via Westminster for at least a generation, as the proposed boundary changes will remove eight solid Labour seats in Wales plus two SNP-held seats, while increasing the notional Tory seats in England by ten.

The requirement for net public borrowing to be no more than three per cent of national income (GDP) is a reference value for EU membership, not a cast iron specification, which has been waived on several occasions. Alex also misrepresents SNP policy, which is to use our own currency as soon as practical after independence and Scotland meets all the necessary criteria should a future Scottish government decide to apply for EU membership.

Fraser Grant, Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh.

Time to stop sitting on the fence, Alex

In criticising Angus Robertson, Alex Cole-Hamilton betrays the Lib Dems’ perennial weakness; always sitting on the fence trying to appeal to an electorate.

Sorry Alex, but the time has come to be bold, to set out your stall for Scotland's right to determine its own future and/or joining with the European project or against them. Remainers haven't shifted their view and recent and coming experiences will only serve to reinforce the imperative of greater integration for the common good.

Instead of worrying about the mechanics of transition, we who seek independence have no qualms about making the big decision and then letting our leaders and the transition period deal with the minutiae.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems and Labour seem to believe 21st century politics is a marketing exercise; produce policies to appeal to the highest number of voters in the hope of election; party ideology and standards abandoned; grand failure, designed to kick common sense government into an indeterminate future.

We have an electorate seeking government with a strong message. To lead the country forward, not backwards like the Tories.

Which is precisely what Robertson and colleagues offer. A clear option, a clear path forward and an EU that will be delighted to do business and accommodate the fledgling independent Scotland. If for no other reason than to send a clear message to Westminster.

Jim Taylor, The Murrays Brae, Edinburgh.

Brexit means the end of au pair business

The impact of Brexit on the fishing and meat industry has hit the headlines and perhaps the government is correct in insisting these are short-term issues. Spare a thought for those of us who run au pair agencies. Our businesses ceased at 11pm on December 31 and we have gone from busy, viable agencies to no possibility of working at all.

Most au pairs come from the EU and the government’s refusal to provide a visa has been devastating for those of us who have for many years invested our time and energy in this valuable cultural exchange.

We can only hope that someone in government eventually sees the folly in this and comes up with a solution – it really can’t be that difficult!

Dr Ruth Campbell, Au Pair Ecosse.