OUR sympathies must go out to Dr Lisa Cameron, who chose to vote against the introduction of UK abortion law into Northern Ireland on the grounds of conscience, her own life experience and the absence of devolved government in that province. She has been subjected to abuse on social media and threatened with deselection as an SNP MP for daring to go against the orthodoxy which demands that women should automatically agree with what is seen as the right to abortion ("Bishop writes to Sturgeon over abortion vote claims", The Herald, July 19).

Unless I am mistaken, that vote taken at Westminster was supposed to be a free vote. So the tsunami of abuse and invective she has been subjected to tells us how intolerant and unforgiving our politics has become.

To stand up for your sincerely-held principles has to be applauded in this day and age when so many are willing to compromise their beliefs to hang on to their seats.

There are indeed valid reasons for objecting to abortion and for resisting the campaign to extend the right to abortion virtually up to full term. If you agree with abortion, meet those opposed to it on the level of rational discussion rather than resorting to browbeating and bullying tactics to keep people in line.

I would hope that Dr Lisa Cameron will retain her seat and not be forced out of politics in the face of the tirades she has had to endure.

Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs.

Congresswoman was wrong

I FEEL it is essential that I correct Peter MD Gray on his version of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and child separation (Letters, July 19). At a Congressional hearing Ms Ocasio-Cortez accused former acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) chief Thomas Homan of recommending the child separation policy. "So you provided the official recommendation to Secretary Nielsen for the United States to pursue family separation?" Ms Ocasio-Cortez asked. Mr Homan's reply was that that was one of several recommendations he made to save lives. He pointed out that it is US law, which applies to all US citizens who get arrested, to separate an offender from any child who is with the offender.

Ms Ocasio-Cortez then displayed her ignorance by claiming the illegal immigrants hadn't committed any crime. "When you enter the country illegally, it's a violation 8 of United States Code 13-25," Mr Homan responded. When she tried to claim that these illegal immigrants were in fact asylum seekers, "If you want to seek asylum, go to the port of entry and do it the legal way," Mr Homan shot back. "The Attorney General of the United States has made that very clear."

The above facts are a matter of public record. They clearly display that Ms Ocasio-Cortez is woefully ignorant of the real situation regarding illegal immigrants on the Mexico border, but that does not stop her making absurd, unfounded accusations.

David Stubley, Prestwick.

Emergency talk?

HOW many deaths will be saved by all new ambulances in Scotland having the writing on one side in Gaelic? Similarly, have the polis had more successes with their vehicles now being dual-branded as Police and Poileas? And how many road accidents have been averted by road signs being cluttered with duplication of the names of destinations in both English and Gaelic? And whilst we are at it, how many passengers have caught their trains due to the station name signs being displayed additionally in Gaelic?

Is this a good use of public money or could the money be better spent elsewhere?

Robin M Brown, Milngavie.