Theresa May’s concessions to Scotland cast doubt over her commitment to leaving the EU

SIR – Your report (July 16) that Theresa May will not invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty until Nicola Sturgeon agrees should set off alarm bells for all those who voted to leave the EU.

David Davis and other Leave MPs must find out immediately whether her assertion that “Brexit means Brexit” is not what we thought, and she has just decided to stall our departure from the EU indefinitely. Michael Edwards Haslemere, Surrey SIR – When the Prime Minister arrived to meet Nicola Sturgeon in Edinburgh, the First Minister stood rooted at the top of the steps to Bute House rather than coming down to meet her guest. To compound this, Ms Sturgeon had two Scottish flags on display at their meeting, when there should have been a Union flag too.

We are still a united kingdom, and Mrs May should note the First Minister’s bad manners. Charles Foster Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire SIR – Simon Heffer (Review, July 17) is right that Mrs May’s sacking of Michael Gove – who is generally acknowledged to have been an excellent Justice Secretary and Education Secretary – appeared petty.

She should remember that, although she is a Eurosceptic, she declined to demonstrate the courage of her convictions and supported Remain – whereas Mr Gove risked his career by supporting Brexit.

He also did the country a huge favour by scuppering Boris Johnson’s chances of becoming prime minister. Mr Gove would have known his actions would be unpopular, but again had the courage of his convictions.

I hope it will not be too long before Mr Gove is back where he belongs – in a position where he can fight for the people of Britain. Patricia Mowat Camberley, Surrey SIR – Given that many of the stateeducated members of Mrs May’s Cabinet attended grammar schools, has the time come for her to bring these back? Doreen Whittaker Ilford, Essex SIR – The British Chambers of Commerce has, for some time, been calling for a boost to investment in infrastructure, especially while the cost of borrowing is so low.

So it is reassuring that Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, starts his first full week indicating that the new Government will borrow and invest wisely (report, July 15).

Given the short-term instability in the markets and sterling in the aftermath of the Brexit vote, there is no better time to focus on infrastructure, which for years has often been procrastinated upon in Westminster.

Housebuilding and broadband enhancements can start almost immediately, while big-ticket schemes – such as HS2, new nuclear and renewables projects, and work on a new runway in the South East – need urgent approval to begin in earnest.

These schemes create contracts for businesses, improve productivity and benefit local areas. Moves to get diggers in the ground will also boost business confidence – and show the world that the UK remains a fantastic place in which to do business. Dr Adam Marshall Acting Director General British Chambers of Commerce London SW1 SIR – Richard Gates (Letters, July 14) misses the point when he says that Mrs May should be referred to as the second female prime minister, rather than the first one since Margaret Thatcher.

This way of phrasing it simply emphasises the gap in time. If I had a drink on January 1 2016, but not another one until Christmas, the latter would be the first I had had in all those months. I would not call it the second drink (of the year). Anthony Edwards Glen Waverley, Victoria, Australia