What might have been...

RECENT Scots history could have been very different if Growth Commission chairman Andrew Wilson had retained his Holyrood list seat in 2011, instead of being ‘demoted in the rankings after internal party wrangling’.

He seems a decent, able type of person who, with the support of Alex Salmond, could have already implemented many of the commission policies, fully exploited devolution, proved the SNP could run an independent Scotland and provided evidence on which to vote Yes or No.

His realism would have scared voters in 2014 but in 2016, having demonstrated real achievements in government, the SNP might have won a convincing mandate for a referendum in 2019.

Instead Scotland declined under the SNP, riven by anger and bitterness, and ruled by pale imitations of the first SNP cabinet – with neither the ability, credentials or desire to implement the market-based, hardnosed policies that Mr Wilson’s ideas demand.

ALLAN SUTHERLAND, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire.

WE are told the Growth Commission raised the tone of the independence debate. All it has done is undermine the 2014 No vote.

JULIE BROWN, Edinburgh.

EVEN if the SNP had gone into the 2014 Scottish independence referendum with the Growth Commission report and not its Scotland’s Future fibs, the answer would still have been No.

GORDON MURRAY, Aberdeen.