HAVING had a family member recently subjected to the stress, uncertainty, expense and malfunctioning bureaucracy required to gain a UK visa for a foreign (non-EU) spouse, I accepted the idea that EU citizens wanting to remain in Britain post-Brexit would be experiencing similar problems.
The SNP has raised this subject at every opportunity as it fits well with its brand of virtue-signalling, grievance-grabbing opposition to all things Westminster and Brexit.
I was therefore surprised when a Romanian acquaintance said that the process was easy and that none of her circle of EU friends was finding it difficult or worrying about their futures in the UK. A Polish friend agreed, saying that of his dozens of EU friends, he was not aware of any having great difficulty, being stressed or considering leaving the UK because of Brexit.
Whilst I have no doubt that there are individual cases to be addressed where the system has failed or proved cumbersome, it appears not to be the big issue the SNP and other political point-seekers imply.
The irony is that these people could have gone anywhere in "Eutopia", but they chose to settle in a Britain portrayed by the SNP as an unwelcoming, unfair, inward-looking relic of an evil empire. Not only that, but many chose to settle in Scotland, supposedly the most downtrodden corner of these blighted isles, deprived of its wealth and natural resources by Westminster. As if that was not strange enough, most of those who settled apparently wish to stay in the UK post-Brexit and more still come, despite the warnings of a cliff-edge Brexit apocalypse.
Unlike some people born here, these industrious incomers realise how good it is to live in Scotland. Regardless of the final Brexit outcome they have confidence in Scotland as part the UK and are willing to do their bit to make it a success.
Mark Openshaw,
42 Earlswells Road, Cults, Aberdeen.
WHEN I listen to the political discussions regarding Brexit, I remember that excellent programme Yes Minister. There are similarities.
Irene McMichael,
Hydee, Auldgirth, Dumfriesshire.
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