Double Standards

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How dare Nicola Sturgeon sermonise on Twitter about the importance of respecting democracy, in support of her demands for indyref2. Referencing the US election, the SNP leader rightly observes that “power doesn’t belong to politicians — it belongs to the people”, She is a lifetime career politician who, since it became clear on 19 September 2014 that she’d lost the“once ina generation” independence referendum, has campaigned virtually daily for its rerun. 84.6 per cent of us- that’s us “the people” whom Ms Sturgeon claims so much to respect—voted, with a clear majority rejecting her separatist dreams.

Ms Sturgeon is therefore, I suggest, a democracy denier. She has zero right to virtue signal on respecting democratic principles and process. Beyond double standards.

MARTIN REDFERN

Events prove that economic musle is all important

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RUNNING a country should be like running a business in the sense that you need a strong balance sheet, positive cash flow anda good credit rating — especially if you hit unprecedented times and require eye-watering amounts of borrowing during a pandemic. Fortunately we have the Bank of England which has an excellent track record over the past 300 years and is backed by a £2 trillion economy. The extension of the furlough scene until next March to protect millions of private sector jobs throughout the UK is a prime example. The idea that you could establish an independent Scotland in the foreseeable future (after the eco- nomic effects of the pandemic) without a currency, with massive debt and large fiscal deficit suc- cessfully is not just a silly pipe dream, it would be the height of folly with a flight of capital (like Quebec) and people south and elsewhere.

The SNP needs more than people who paint their faces, wave flags and hurl abuse at people who may have a different view about independence. Just look at how wrong the polls were in the US due to the importance voters placed on the economy and not the “noise” which was generated by selfseek- ing politicians. Come another ref- erendum not only would it be fought on different terms to the last one, people (including the fi- nancial institutions) would want to be convinced that the SNP has a viable economic plan supported by the business sector and not just by a number of inexperienced career politicians with their heads in the sand.

Ian Lakin, Aberdeen AB13.

SNP must show its legal hand

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Sir, – It will be interesting to see whether the SNP honour the Scottish Parliament vote to force them to hand over the legal advice it received regarding the Salmond affair. If it does, it will be a major crack in the edifice of secrecy and evasion we have experience these past 13 years. If it does not because it has been destroyed, even those who normally turn a blind eye will surely be disgusted, outraged and demand action.

If they don’t because they claim the vote was only advisory that surely gives the UK Government a reason to reject any Holyrood vote demanding a referendum. And perhaps more, the 4m Scottish voters who haven’t a clue what is going in will sit up and take notice.

Allan Sutherland

Democratic integrity

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The First Minister tells us that she is concerned about the integrity of democracy in the US. Wish she was concerned about integrity here – she has never accespted the 2014 and 106 referendum results.