THE reprehensible comments by Esther McVey about the so-called rape clause, the forced apology by Amber Rudd and Theresa May to the Windrush generation, and Ross Thomson belittling the victims of Saddam Hussein show once again the cruel inhumanity of the Tories.

Recently many UK citizens from the Commonwealth have been contacted by the Home Office and told they are not eligible to stay in the UK. They have faced harassment and violations of their rights as well as the denial of health care, housing and employment. The Home Office insisted they prove they have been in the UK continually since January 1973 by providing four relevant documents for every year of residence.

The treatment of the Windrush generation was the deliberate result of a government policy to victimise and expel migrants. In 2012, legislation was passed requiring people to possess documentation of their right to be in the country in order to work, rent or access health and welfare benefits.

This disgusting mindset the Tories have for anyone who is not extremely rich was also demonstrated by Esther McVey. In trying to defend the indefensible “rape clause” for Universal Credit she simply showed herself to be a ruthless unfeeling careerist who only cares about herself. And Ross Thomson mocked and belittled the victims of Saddam Hussein then tried to justify it by claiming he had supported the war to remove him.

What this shows is that the centuries-old colonialist mentality of the British state has not gone away: the mindset of Empire, conquest and duplicity persists. It drips and oozes from Tory party members, voters and elected officials.

Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee

THE fact that Tory MP Ross Thomson has posted photographs of himself sitting on Saddam Hussein’s throne demonstrates that he is probably not the sharpest tool in the box. (MP ‘insulted victims’ by sitting on Iraq throne, April 19) However, one comment he makes about it is somewhat worrying.

Of Saddam Hussein he states: “I supported his removal.” Mr Ross should be aware that military action in a foreign country with the aim of regime change or removal of a head of state is illegal under international law. This lack of knowledge of international matters and what seems to be a lack of common sense will probably lead to him being appointed to Boris Johnson’s team at the Foreign Office.

Douglas Morton
Lanark

AS someone whose researched ancestors were all born in Scotland, I was very uneasy when I saw that the updated Declaration of Arbroath referred only to those born in Scotland.

That does not reflect modern Scotland or the independence movement, which includes many adopted Scots and is to me about democracy, and the right of all the citizens of Scotland to choose their own government.

So I agree absolutely with George Mitchell’s solution of adding “or by choice” right after the statement “This sovereignty is mine by birth” (Letters, April 19).

This could be a wonderful rallying point on our road to governing our own country.

Jean Anderson Hall
Edinburgh

ONCE again Ian Small, head of public policy and corporate affairs for BBC Scotland, takes up the pen regarding “planning” for “a high-quality service for our audiences in Scotland” and complains that The National article on the service is “outdated” and “significantly misleading” (Letters, April 20). I nearly burst my sides laughing.

Once again we are regaled with promises of “exciting and innovative programme ideas” from the state broadcaster. Mr Small must think we all came up a river, near his gilded palace, on a banana boat. A new coat of paint on Pacific Quay will not do the job, Mr Small – you must know by now what people in Scotland want from the publicly funded state broadcaster.

So far you have failed to deliver, resulting in BBC Scotland having the least satisfied audience in the UK!

Bill McLean
Dunfermline

CHRISTIAN teaching differentiates between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. In a democratic country the law exists to protect, not persecute, its citizens.

Spain, since Franco, has not been a truly democratic country: a state that incites violence against its own people for political reasons does not deserve to be called a democracy. This is the country that in the past devised laws to expel its Jewish citizenry and implement an inquisition.

Apologists for Rajoy invoke the rule of law to justify his actions. But what if the law is unjust, a political expedient designed to suppress all opposition?

Many collaborationists who upheld the law in Vichy France, by denouncing resistance fighters, paid a heavy price after the liberation.

Shamefully, the silence of the Pope in that era is now echoed by the the silence of the EU.

James Stevenson
Auchterarder

THERE are things that independent nations can do to improve living costs in remote areas. I remember being utterly shocked at the cost of filling my car petrol tank at the pump on Longhope, in Orkney. The price of the petrol seemed particularly ironic, as I could see the huge oil refinery on Flotta just a couple of miles away!

Today, however, I read that the New Zealand Government is considering how best to reduce petrol costs on the Great Barrier Island, which lies within sight of Auckland but has the highest petrol prices anywhere in New Zealand. So there is hope, given freedom to act, for places that present distribution problems to suppliers. All it needs, apart from political freedom, is a bit of imagination, as well as the intelligence to appreciate the manifold social benefits of maintaining local communities outside urban centres.

Peter Craigie
Edinburgh