DAVID Pratt’s article about child refugees (“A shameful, sly decision that betrays child refugees in peril”, The Herald, February 8) is indeed a sad reflection on Theresa May’s priorities – free market capitalism and economic gain far outweighing any social considerations, a mirror image of the Chinese and their insatiable appetite to invest in countries no matter how rotten the government or how poor their human rights record.

And we have Nigel Farage berating the German Chancellor in the European Parliament for apparently putting her country at risk through taking more than one million refugees, surely one of the most compassionate actions imagineable? Mr Farage and President Donald Trump politicise these hapless people in a way that is shameful to a civilised society – let them stand in the refugees’ shoes for just one day and see how they feel.

Unfortunately many find their arguments compelling, they cannot see through the facade to the true individuals they are – hard-faced businessmen whose selfish, uncompassionate ideals hold no place for the weak, the poor and the vulnerable.

Paul Shaw,

20 Argyle Way, Dunblane.

HAVING described the “nightmarish world the UK promised it would help some children escape from”, David Pratt accuses Tory ministers of betraying these children “without the remotest hint of contrition”.

So this is how a hard Brexit Government behaves.

What is more, the Immigration Minister is reported as stating that “all children not transferred to the UK are in the care of the French authorities”. However, according to charity workers these unaccompanied and vulnerable children are living rough under bridges and in the woods in temperatures of -5°C. This is yet more deception from ministers who found themselves in positions of power following the presentation of “alternative facts” during the EU referendum campaign. It seems to come naturally to them.

Mrs May in taking this action is revealing not only her appalling lack of humanity but a foolhardy preparedness to reveal that Brexit equals British Trumpism.

Although I do not believe Scottish independence to be a practical proposition any time soon, we in Scotland must find ways meantime of showing to the world that we do not share the values of Little Britain and are indeed reluctant members of such a Hard-Brexit-Driven Kingdom.

John Milne,

9 Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston.

WITH all respect to your distinguished columnist Iain Macwhirter, I am not sure that I can follow his logic in his article, advising the First Minister to call a second independence referendum “within the next 18 months” (“To stay in EU, Sturgeon must take us out of UK pre-Brexit”).

On the one hand he quite correctly concedes that this would be a risky endeavour despite the recent slight increase in support for independence recorded in the latest Herald poll (“Support for independence surges on hard Brexit vow”, The Herald, February 8) though not exactly a “surge” and still not a clear majority. He also correctly identifies that the First Minister would have a problem explaining why she has abandoned her earlier shrewd promise “not to call a referendum until there was a ‘clear sustained majority’ for one”. He then goes on to conclude his analysis by posing the apparently – in his eyes – rhetorical question: “With a hard Brexit now a certainty do Scots still want to remain in the UK?”

One might as well ask: “Do Scots still want to remain in a post-Brexit EU which would no longer include our main trading partner, namely England?”

While I can appreciate that for tactical reasons the SNP hierarchy may not currently wish to consider this question, it will undoubtedly come up on the doorsteps and in the TV studios in any subsequent referendum campaign – to the disadvantage, I would argue, of pro-independence campaigners.

Ian O Bayne,

8 Clarence Drive, Glasgow.

I AM in full agreement with Alan Fitzpatrick (Letters, February 9) and similarly fed up and weary of the incessant calls for another referendum on Scottish independence. Whatever the outcome of Brexit negotiations the siren call of the SNP will not cease for such to take place on any pretext or excuse. It can be forgiven, in part, as that is the only reason for their creation and existence in the body politic of Scotland.

I rather imagine, although I have not heard it stated, that a certain anniversary date in April 2020 would be the icing on the cake for its dreams and aspirations – namely, the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Scottish Independence at Arbroath Abbey on April 6, 1320.

John Macnab,

175 Grahamsdyke Street, Laurieston, Falkirk.