What is happening at the Sunday Herald? Three positive articles about veganism, three weeks running. Almost too good to be true. In Laura Webster's piece, the quotes from those trying to promote and protect dairy products are ludicrous (Whiteout, the death of dairy, Lifestyle, January 14).

Dairy farmer, Gary Mitchell, vice-president of the National Farmers' Union Scotland, mentions the advertising that "accuses farmers of taking calves away from their mothers". What exactly is his complaint? That's exactly what they do. Cows and their calves have a very close bond, yet calves are taken from their mothers either immediately after being born, or, at most, within a few days of their birth. Cow and calf then pine for each other.

Mitchell also trots out the often-used comment that our welfare standards are among the highest in the world. This makes a mockery of the word "welfare". The reality is that our standards are possibly slightly less cruel than in some other countries, but nevertheless still exceedingly cruel.

He complains he and his ilk are portrayed as not being "animal lovers". There is even more cruelty in the dairy industry than in the "meat" industry. To keep animals prisoners, to use them as milking machines for a product that is not only unnecessary for human consumption, but is not even good for us and then, when their use is no longer required, being packed off to the slaughterhouse is a very strange way of expressing ones love for "their" animals.

Sandra Busell

Edinburgh

Sandra Bussell writes: "At the risk of being labelled judgmental, I believe those who consume animal flesh and the milk of animals are committing heinous sins" (Vegans are not 'holier than thou', Letters, January 14).

Thank you for confirming what the vast majority have long suspected about veganism as little more than a pseudo-religion for the white middle classes in a secular age.

Mark Boyle

Johnstone

Hardeep Singh Kohli generally writes with common sense, whether on racism (How do you explain the H&M furore to a child, Comment, January 14) or veganism (When they're not being pious vegans talk a log of sense, Comment, January 7). Like him, and most other people, I am an omnivore. Humans have evolved as omnivores and have proved able to survive and prosper on many different diets.

Many of those who eat vegetarian diets in the world today do so for economic reasons. Most such, in Africa and Asia, eat some animal protein whether in dairy products, insects, mice or whatever else is available. Once in Malawi I, like others, was eating flying termites when someone said I was not eating enough at once to get the flavour. To me, they tasted like butter with wings on. Roasted they were a bit like popcorn. Such minor animal additions to a vegetarian diet allow large populations to remain relatively healthy without the need for vitamin B12 or other dietary supplements. Though Sandra Busell refers to veganism as being "healthy", it appears to be a phenomenon of wealthy countries where dietary supplements are available, affordable and fashionable.

David Stevenson

Edinburgh

THANK YOU FOR CARING, READERS

On behalf of everyone at Shelter Scotland and all our clients I wholeheartedly thank the Sunday Herald’s readers and editorial team for their generosity and support during the paper’s latest Christmas charity appeal. Only through donations from members of the public can we continue our fight against bad housing and to end homelessness in Scotland. The money raised during December (more than £2,000) will enable us to answer more calls on our free national helpline or give more, free, face-to-face advice to people facing homelessness.

Sadly, homelessness in Scotland is still Far From Fixed and bad housing blights many lives – so our fight goes on. Last year alone we helped around 21,000 households to find a home, keep a home or make their home better to live in.

As you may have read in the features that ran during December, at the heart of our work is people. From Tam and Robert who were homeless for years in Glasgow, to Andy who lived in terrible conditions in temporary accommodation, these are people who are now in a better place thanks to the work and dedication of our helpline staff, advisors and legal team.

Thanks for helping to support us and our work. We couldn’t do it without you.

Graeme Brown

Director, Shelter Scotland

JUSTICE SECRETARY ACTED CORRECTLY

Your editorial on policing suggests “readers may be wondering why this newspaper has taken a continued interest in the tensions between Chief Constable Phil Gormley and Justice Secretary Michael Matheson” (Why a crisis in policing matters for our democracy, Editorial, January 14).

I am one of those readers. Little comment is made of the SPA Board and its discredited former chair, Andrew Flanagan, who chaired the meeting to reinstate the Chief Constable. Mr Flanagan resigned after serious concerns were expressed by two cross-party Holyrood Committees over governance, transparency, management style and a lack of confidence in his leadership.

I support the Justice Secretary’s intervention on such a questionable matter of judgement by the SPA. The lack of consultation with the acting senior staff, the lack of reference to PIRC (the investigating panel), the lack of consideration of the staff who originally raised the complaints were all reasonable concerns.

I can't imagine any organisation reinstating a senior manager who was still under investigation for allegations of bullying, before the investigation was completed. This was unfair to all parties including the chief constable.

I disagree that the concerns could have been addressed within days. However I believe the matter was quickly addressed: the SPA Board considered and reversed their decision after the Justice Minister had questioned “that due process had been followed”.

I hope the matter is resolved quickly and that the Justice Secretary, the new SPA Board Chair, Susan Deacon, and the senior leadership of Police Scotland can work together to “ensure the police service is one the whole of Scotland can have confidence in”.

Gordon Ferrie

Straiton

LEAVE VOTERS’ SENSES ARE INTACT

Your leader suggests that 17.4 million people collectively took leave of their senses in voting for Brexit (The case for a second EU referendum, Editorial, January 14). It is one thing to argue your case; it is quite another to so casually and condescendingly dismiss the opinion of those who do not share your views.

I voted Leave after long and careful consideration, and I have yet to hear an argument that would persuade me to “come to my senses” and join “our friends in Europe” (who would they be?). Having failed to win over Leavers with a reasoned argument, resorting to gratuitous insult is likely to be counter-productive.

Andrew Walker,

Anstruther

Lord Adonis allows wishful thinking to blind him to Nicola Sturgeon’s underlying motivations (‘Sturgeon is key to securing second EU referendum’, News, January 14). The SNP Government sees a direct link between generating grievance over Brexit and their aspirations to engineer the circumstances for a second independence referendum. Surely few in the main UK political parties would want to encourage that.

Keith Howell, West Linton

WHO MOVED MONTENEGRO?

Noreen Barr’s feature on Montenegro was informative and interesting and certainly described a country I might like to visit (The Adriatic’s hidden gem, Travel, January 14). But the last sentence was: “The biggest surprise is that it’s taken us so long to discover this beautiful Baltic destination.” Has it moved? Is it very cold? Or does the Sunday Herald need better proof readers?

Douglas Morton

Lanark

Editor’s note: Sorry, readers, for this error and thanks to everyone who pointed it out