I WAS so proud to see our First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, meeting once again with Nancy Pelosi, the Speaker of the House and second in succession to the President, in Washington. I was in Glasgow for COP26 when they met and when the Scottish people gave such support to so many from all over the world seeking to improve our environment.

It is vitally important that the ties we have had and the ideas we have shared with the States, in particular during the Scottish Enlightenment, are reinforced for the benefit of both countries. These are worrisome times for democracies large and small, but equally important for both, but these two women give me a glimmer of hope.

Isabelle Smith via email WELL done Nicola on the USA visit to set out how Scotland can be independent in the EU and in Nato. Remember Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ban the bomb and other nations will follow. England is becoming a Unionist rogue state and Scotland is better than that.

Glen Peters
Paisley