PETER A Russell (Letters, November 19) suggests that Scotland can learn lessons on tolerance and integration from England, and gives as examples, London, and other major English cities as being "far more cosmopolitan and multi-cultural than any part of Scotland"; but however you look at it, the cosmopolitan ambience was somewhat dented when England voted to leave the European Union.

On a recent visit to London, a beautiful city which I love, I stayed at a large hotel on the banks of the Thames; the hotel was almost 100 per cent staffed by EU citizens from all over Europe who must be feeling a chill wind blowing down river from Westminster, and since the 2016 referendum a dimming of that cosmopolitan, multi-cultural welcome to people who have much to contribute; sadly, the Tories have created a hostile environment on immigration which leaves everyone poorer.

Ruth Marr, Stirling.

PETER A Russell speaks as if multiculturalism and cosmopolitanism are invariably and systematically good things. They can indeed enrich any society but can also create their own strains if not well managed, leading to resentments, real or imaginary. The tragedy of Grenfell illustrated more ills than building standards. The level of knife crime in London speaks to this as well.

Mr Russell claims that Brian Farrell (Letters, November 16) portrays “Scottish nationalism as exceptional to every other nationalism, in being some kind of benevolent and sanctified force”. I would respectfully disagree. Leaving Mr Russell to his own hyperbole, I agree with Mr Farrell that “we simply want to be known as Scots, with our own culture, within an international and multicultural society”. The pressure to end freedom of movement has not come from Scotland. Quite the reverse in fact, as it is a matter of widespread agreement that after years of depopulation, Scotland needs migrants.

Mr Russell also claims that Mr Farrell portrays England as “xenophobic, intolerant and well on the way to fascism”. In fact, the closest he gets to this is when he speaks of “the right-wing populist movement in England”. Is Nigel Farage not a right-wing populist? Or most worrying of all, Boris Johnson? How much support do either have in Scotland? Yes some, but much less than in England. The 2016 Leave vote was 53.4 per cent in England compared to 38 per cent here. In the EU Parliament elections, the Brexit Party secured 38.23 per cent of the vote in England, but only 14.8 per cent in Scotland. Thus, between the two countries there was overlap, which having been part of the same Union for 300 years is no surprise. However, distributions of opinion were different, such that balance of opinion in each country is not only different, but increasingly different

Most saddening though is Mr Russell’s claim that England has “nothing to learn” about “tolerance and integration” from Scotland. Is there though, a situation where we cannot profit by learning from others, even if it’s what not to do? Thus, when he criticises Mr Farrell’s nationalism as “exceptional to every other nationalism” he might do well to consider his own position.

Alasdair Galloway, Dumbarton.

SO Peter Russell believes that "London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester and every other city in England" is far more cosmopolitan and multicultural than any part of Scotland"? What an astonishing assertion, and from a resident in Glasgow's West End!

In his modest way, Mr Russell asserts that we Scots need to learn lessons from the English about tolerance and integration. What nonsense. Perhaps he needs to refresh his memory from school history lessons about the regular and accepted influx into Scotland over the centuries of people from other nations – Ireland, Poland, other European countries, and further afield. If anything, the intolerance and resistance he writes about is far more prevalent in some areas of England. The huge cosmopolitan city of London is a unique and special case, recognised as an international location. It is not in any way comparable to any other city in the rest of England, where the acceptance of incomers is just as welcome or unwelcome as in Scotland, depending on needs and circumstances.

I totally disagree with Mr Russell's final assertion that Scotland needs to learn lessons from England regarding tolerance, immigration and integration. One might even argue that the reverse is the case. Both nations have been doing this relatively successfully for centuries and will continue to do so without gratuitous advice from Mr Russell.

Iain AD Mann, Glasgow G12.