I was in a queue of about four people waiting for a sausage roll in Glasgow at the weekend. Turned out I was in the middle of the “emergency” Under One Banner March. Didn’t even realise. David Bone, Girvan, South Ayrshire
William Golden in his letter (January 22) repeats the well-worn accusation that those in favour of staying in the UK referred to Scotland as “too small, too poor and too stupid’: This phrase was used by John Swinney, not those on the “No” side. There is no doubt that Scotland could be a separate country but for what reason and at what cost? No one in favour of separatism can explain why they think it was wrong to leave the EU but it would be right to leave our union with our closest neighbour after 300 years. We are intrinsically linked and it benefits Scotland to stay in this union both financially and culturally. As for the Boris Johnson or Tories argument, they will not be in power forever whereas removing ourselves from the rest of the UK would be permanent. Even Nicola Sturgeon has admitted that leaving the UK would be a financial hit for Scotland. Our geographic layout with remote communities makes providing services in Scotland more expensive than in England. Our demographics, with a greater proportion of older people, means that the tax base is lower than in other countries. While Mr Golden may think that the youth of today are politically astute, they are economically naive if they believe the lies being fed to them by some in the SNP of higher pensions and greater wealth. Jane Lax. Craigellachie, Aberlour.
Further to ongoing correspondence from SNP supporters, surely the time has come to end this wasteful William Wallace wannabe “independence” nonsense? The reality is that the SNP, after 15 bungling years in control at Holyrood, are incapable of producing a sustainable economic plan for an “independent” Scotland. For the arrogant SNP to keep squandering taxpayers’ money to buy votes, and to keep having independence referendums until they win by a mere one-vote majority, is tyranny, not democracy. Any future indyrefs must follow the very strict and long-winded rules of the SNP constitution. Article 27 states that “a two-thirds majority must be achieved before change”. ‘lb thrive and prosper, work ethic and common sense (alien to the power-mad SNP) must once again become the order of the day in Scotland, where only people of proven integrity and wisdom should be allowed to enter politics. Scotland is a small country being strangled by toxic over-government. It’s time to scrap the clownish Holyrood, devolving powers directly to our more-than-plenty 32 council areas. Scotland has had enough of pygmy politicians. George Emslie, Balgownie Gardens, Bridge Of Don, Aberdeen.
