Letters: Beware, the Brave New World beckons

On his first visit to America it is assumed that his charm and public schoolboy buffoonery will lead to all sorts of wonderful trade deals with our “closest ally”. Chances are there will be time for a relaxing dinner at Trump Tower and we can guess who'll be coming to dinner.

President Trump will be flanked by John Bolton and Steve Bannon and Prime Minister Boris will be accompanied by his newly-appointed right-wing Foreign Secretary and Ambassador. (To add some light entertainment, Piers Morgan may well be invited.)

After his antics at the recent G20 summit, there may well be three extra chairs required if Donald Trump invites his new friends from Russia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea.

Almost a century ago, Aldous Huxley in A Brave New World and George Orwell in 1984, warned us that future technologies would enable a few ruthless leaders to mollify, control and subjugate whole nations of people.

We’re still a long way from these prophesies becoming reality but I would suggest it`s time for all of us to sit up and take note.

Hugh Phillips, Glasgow G71.

ALISON Rowat's depressing analysis of the situation facing the country as a result of the Tory Party's current actions ("Save the Union says the party that is busy destroying itself", The Herald, July 12) is pretty much accurate until the last sentence, where she suggests that they cannot save the Union since they cannot save themselves. The reality is that their actions are solely intended to save the party, whatever the damage to the rest of us.

Look at the nature of the electorate to which the incoming Tory leader is beholden, as revealed in the YouGov poll headlined in Monday's paper ("Tory members think Trump would be good PM", The Herald, July 8). Bring back the death penalty, crash out of the EU without a deal and to hell with Scotland is just what they want. The Tory Party only has to pander to the near-medieval barbarism and xenophobia displayed by this group and they will get enough support to retain power. There seems little to prevent this, with the Labour Party apparently determined to tear itself apart rather than serving its supporters.

Donald Trump must be rubbing his hands in glee at the opportunities being offered for US business interests. So unlike Boris Johnson with his infamous suggestion to (forcibly inseminate) business.

Dr RM Morris, Ellon.

BORIS Blunderbuss for Prime Minister? Is that Boris Gudonov? No, it's Boris Not Good Enough.

David Forbes, Ayr.

AFTER the decision almost three years ago when Britain voted by the biggest turnout ever in the referendum to leave the EU, I got the impression watching Channel 4 News most nights that C4 was negotiating on behalf of the EU. I have never known a programme so biased against Britain, at times I thought presenter Jon Snow was going to have a heart attack. At this moment in time while awaiting the result of who will be our next prime minister, C4 is in full opposition to Boris Johnson, thus running true to form.

John Connor, Dunfermline.

IT is a great credit to Sir Kim Darroch that he has chosen honourably to resign from his post with decency, decorum and dignity in the face of the unseemly and undiplomatic furore unleashed by the deliberate leaking of his confidential, honest and scathing appraisals of the Trump administration. ("Knives out for Boris as our man in US falls on his sword", The Herald, July 11).

His resignation allows the decks to be cleared for his successor so that prosecution of the US ambassadorship can be effective.

Whoever is responsible for releasing this compilation of composite comments plucked from the confidential appraisals, has done so with malicious intent.

Without the security which should accompany such appraisals, it will not be possible for ambassadors to prosecute their duties with any confidence.

Let us hope the investigation identifies the perpetrator and sheds light on the motivation for this dastardly deed.

It is unacceptable that civil service impartiality should have been compromised in this way.

Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.

IF I were Sir Kim Darroch I would have added an insert in my letter of resignation to the effect that it is impossible for me to continue to carry out my role because the actions of the President of the United States has shown that he is indeed inept, and in these circumstances I cannot carry out my duties.

If someone accuses me of being inept the last thing that I do is criticise that person, because to do so shows that I am inept. Even if I am not inept it might be better to admit to being inept in the hope that others might produce a list of achievements which might suggest that I am not inept.

President Trump, rather than criticise the British Ambassador, should have concentrated on his successes, such as building the wall, draining the swamp and jailing Hillary Clinton.

Sandy Gemmill, Edinburgh, EH3.

MUCH has been discussed with regard to Prime Minister Theresa May's legacy, little of it positive.

She is, however, still Prime Minister and it is in her power still to appoint a successor to Sir Kim Darroch.

Please do so now.

It may cost her the title of Lady May and will certainly be derided by those Conservative bullies already telling her no to do so.

It is, however, the right thing to do and standing up to bullies – and the possible horrors of a Boris Johnson ally in the post appeasing President Trump at every turn – could prove a more fitting legacy.

It would certainly please a great number of people who fear for the future of the government of this country.

Please Mrs May – courage!

Moira Love, Cumbernauld.

I AM mystified that Boris Johnson is being singled out for blame for the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch Normally, it is the political head of the appropriate department who takes responsibility. That’s how it works at Holyrood. So why is Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt getting away with it? It couldn’t be because he looks like the softer option for the civil servants, could it?

Douglas R Mayer, Currie.