A vote to make us poorer

THE SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, told broadcaster Andrew Marr that in the EU referendum ‘nobody voted to become poorer and it’s about that threat which is becoming clearer to jobs and prosperity’. I wouldn’t disagree with that.

This, however, highlights the contradictions in Mr Blackford’s own position. His party’s raison d’être is to campaign for a policy – separating Scotland from the UK – that would make Scots poorer and would threaten jobs and prosperity. Leaving the single market of the UK would be at a huge cost to Scots. Yet this is what the SNP wants Scots to vote for – becoming poorer.

Of course Mr Blackford and his party will deny that is the case. But where would they find the £9billion a year Scotland receives from Westminster via the Barnett Formula if Scotland were left to its own devices?

At present Scotland does four times as much trade with the rest of the UK as it does with the European Union. How much of that would be lost if Scotland rejected the UK and turned in on itself?

These are questions the SNP cannot answer honestly. There is much talk of our ‘talent’ and ‘resources’, but that is pie in the sky. If we are ever to have genuine debate in Scotland, the SNP has to tell the truth: that a vote for separation from the UK is a vote to make us poorer. Jill StephenSon, edinburgh. IT’S easier for Ian Blackford and many in the SNP to pretend the electorate were too thick to understand what they were doing when they voted for Brexit.

What is tougher to grasp – but clear – is that very many within the SNP rank and file want shot of the EU, but a clique of senior Nationalists just don’t get it. Archie pAtterSon, Ayr.