Ignorance of political reality

Sir, - Allan MacDougall (February 21) demonstrates the ignorance of fiscal matters that the SNP has striven to embed in its supporters. He repeats a number of untruths that are standard SNP propaganda.

First, revenue from goods produced in Scotland is attributed to Scotland and not to HM Treasury.

It matters not where the head office of a concern is: the revenue from Scottish retail outlets and supermarkets, mentioned by Mr MacDougall, is already attributed to Scotland. There would be no windfall.

Scotch whisky is attributed to Scotland, not to Westminster. Mr MacDougall could have tried looking in the GERS to find that out.

How Mr MacDougall thinks an independent Scotland would be “in a position to raise funds over and above taxes” is not vouchsafed to us.

Scotland has a very narrow tax base and increasing taxes would incentivise the better off to leave Scotland.

An independent Scotland would be too preoccupied with slashing public services in order to get its 9.5% annual deficit down to the 3% demanded by the EU. Jill Stephenson. Glenlockhart Valley, Edinburgh.