SIR, – I read with interest the contribution from Peter Chapman (Scottish Conservative shadow secretary for Rural Economy & Connectivity) to last week's Scottish Farmer. In summary, Mr Chapman's argument was trust him, Ruth Davidson, David Mundell, and ultimately Theresa May and the UK Government to deliver a safe landing for Scottish agriculture outside of the European Union.

I would suggest that based on recent evidence of the willingness, appetite and motivation of the aforementioned politicians to argue Scotland’s case in Brexit negotiations (or any negotiations for that matter), that anyone who took Mr Chapman’s advice would be naïve in the extreme.

A case in point would be Mr Mundell’s track record of standing up for Scotland, which was again shown to be non-existent when he recently admitted under questioning from Gary Robertson on BBC Radio Good Morning Scotland that his cabinet role was not to defend Scotland. This admission follows on from his presiding over a 2016 Scotland Act which supposedly enshrined in law the permanency of the Scottish Parliament, and was subsequently exposed as weasel words by the UK Supreme Court’s ruling on Article 50. In fact every new intervention from Mr Mundell confirms that he is in fact Westminster’s man in Scotland, not Scotland’s man in the cabinet.

If we then consider Ruth Davidson’s performance in fighting Scotland’s case, we observe a series of flip-flops and U-turns on EU membership, Single Market membership, and devolving powers on Agriculture to Holyrood. It is patently obvious that Ms Davidson forms an opinion depending on what Theresa May tells her, and on a calculation of what will aid her in swiftly gaining a safe Tory parliamentary candidacy south of the border.

So to conclude, and to get back to Mr Chapman’s closing remarks, where he asserts that “Scottish issues will be taken seriously at UK level.” I think I would rather trust a Scottish Government actively fighting Scotland’s case, than put any credence in false promises from placemen for a right wing, Brexiteer Tory government.

Robert Macintyre

Newstead Road

Newcastle-Upon-Tyne