THE European Court’s ruling that bulk data collection under the so-called Snooper’s Charter illegal is a good decision (Stopped from snooping,The National, December 22). Under the so-called Snooper’s Charter, fundamental democratic norms are being obliterated in a manufactured atmosphere of fear in preparation for more predatory wars. Theresa May has asserted the need for these measures based on information the intelligence agencies have, without giving any details.

The anti-democratic legislation introduced since the early 2000s – by governments of every political stripe in the name of the “war on terror” – is ultimately aimed at cracking down on growing social opposition to imperialist war and rising levels of social inequality.  This is why so-called “extremists” are being increasingly designated as an all-embracing main threat, supplanting the previous “terrorist” bogeyman. The branding as “extremists” of all those who can be deemed in any way opposed to Westminster’s right-wing, anti-working class policies has been UK Government policy for some time.   The Snooper’s Charter brought together the  diverse rules governing state surveillance into a single piece of legislation. The new laws are an unprecedented attack on the rights and privacy of every UK citizen. They give the security services the power to gather information on millions of people, and to process, profile and store the results. This will be achieved by compelling internet service providers to keep internet connection records for a period of 12 months for access by the police and state security services.

The state is now legally able to monitor every website a person has visited, every comment made and every search-term used. Companies will be forced by the spying agencies to hack into their customers’ devices and override their security. The electronic devices of millions of people will be hacked in bulk, with the agreement of the Home Secretary the only prerequisite. Labour’s support for the Snooper’s Charter must serve as a salutary warning to workers and young people as to its fundamental character as a tried and tested party of the British state. The election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader more than a year ago has changed nothing. Despite his “left” pretensions, he has backed the demands of the ruling elite on every critical issue.

Labour didn’t oppose the bill because they fully support it. Labour agrees with the Conservatives that under conditions of mounting social and political crisis, such measure must be taken in order to defend the UK state.

Alan Hinnrichs 
Dundee 

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SAUDI Arabia is spending billions on exporting its extreme form of Islam that will continue to produce the atrocities we are seeing around the globe. Its Wahabi/Salafi teachings are producing ISIS  followers. Saudi Arabia is even planning to finance 200 more mosques in Germany to spread their extremism. It must be stopped for the sake of everyone’s safety.

We must stop Islamophobia spreading and defend our Muslim communities by recognising where the danger lies and ending our disgusting and extremely dangerous relationship with Saudi Arabia. We must stop the arms sales and condemn the terrible regime for its abhorrent treatment of its own people, its war crimes in Yemen and its responsibility in causing acts of terrorism. The British politicians, businessmen and our royal family who continue to prostrate themselves so enthusiastically before the house of Saud should all be shipped off to live in the country they support so much.
Tony Martin
Gullane
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The BBC’s anti-indy bias clearly has not changed

IF anyone was under the illusion that BBC Scotland feels in any way chastened by the criticism it received for its biased behaviour during the 2014 referendum debate, they must surely now understand that this is not the case.
On Tuesday, Nicola Sturgeon released her much-anticipated proposals for Scotland’s opportunity to stay in the single market after Brexit. The BBC in London, on its 24-hour service, ran part of Ms Sturgeon’s presentation and produced a brief caption at the foot of the screen for some time afterwards. On the evening news, STV had the event as its foremost news item, as is understandable given how momentous the event was.
Across the channels to Reporting Scotland and, quite outrageously, BBC Scotland chose to put the SNP in their place once again by choosing to lead with an item about the delayed extradition of an 80-year-old man from Australia while running the Brexit story as a subordinate one.
When indyref2 comes along, do not expect BBC Scotland to have altered its behaviour by one iota.
Alasdair Forbes,
Farr, Inverness-shire

MICHAEL Fry points out in his excellent article that “except for a lunatic fringe of the Leave campaign nobody would really dispute that the best thing for us to do is remain in the EU single market” (Michael Fry: Indyref2 is the only option in the face of Brexit pain, The National, December 22).
Perhaps I listen to a different version of UK state media to Michael or possibly rise earlier as BBC Radio Scotland (branch) doesn’t come on air until 6am. Before that, we are treated to Wake Up to Money on the 5 Live service. Since by that time I am a solid hour into my commute, I listen to this show at length, not because I enjoy it or because it is informative but because the near hysterical rhetoric has been building day by day since the Brexit vote and I like to know my enemy. We are treated to a daily dose of how wonderful the UK is and how it is far outpacing the rest of the world in all things economic. The UK, according to the BBC in England, is very much better off outside the single market. No company would ever dream of leaving London for fear of “higher corporation tax in France”!  I do not jest.
On top of the UK economic love-in, we also receive a near-daily dose of “the UK pays for Scottish free prescriptions” and a run-down of how pink and fuzzy life is north of the Border. This is in sharp contrast to the dreadful state of affairs evil Nicola and her separatists have brought about by 6am. For at six up rocks up Radio Scotland, our daily dose of self-hatred and cringe. The BBC will clearly back up whatever the right-wing UK Government does in our names. I’m just curious why Michael feels the lunatics are only a fringe!
RJ Bulloch
Shawlands

NICOLA Sturgeon is putting up a great fight on behalf of Scotland retaining access to to the single market. I can understand why she is pursuing a halfway house deal, as there appears to be no answer to two critical areas of debate. Firstly, it would be illegal to hold a referendum without authorisation from Westminster. Secondly, it is doubtful that No voters would change their minds without a guarantee from the EU that Scotland would be eligible for automatic entry – and Spain has already declared it would veto such a move.
Mike Underwood
Linlithgow

THE Unionist parties are attacking the SNP over Tory-enforced austerity again, and  at First Minister’s Questions yesterday they attacked the Scottish Government over cuts. However, it was the LibDems and the Tories, and their Labour chums, who forced cuts on people who are mentally ill, and those receiving disability living allowance or employment and support allowance. 
Shame on them all! Only the SNP and Greens want to protect those at the bottom. I do wish, though, that the SNP would tax the rich more. And if everyone was paid a minimum of £10 a hour, it would help the economy. I’m sure with Nicola Sturgeon will continue to do her best to protect Scotland from Brexit and from Tory cuts, unlike the Unionists at Westminster who are cutting Jobcentres affecting the poorest. It is time we got out of the UK.
Stephen Kelly
Motherwell