Independence ‘pipe-dream’?

Madam, – I am reading the correspondence from your ardent supporter of Scotland’s Independence campaign, Mr Les Mackay (Letters, The Courier, August 30).

In his letter, Mr Mackay repeats the constitutional porkypie that since Scotland did not vote for Brexit, Scotland should be excluded from the Brexit decision ie the usual SNP argument.

Sadly, Mr Mackay forgets that two years earlier, Scotland voted to remain within the UK and therefore is constitutionally required to recognise the UK majority decision on Brexit!

There is also the vexed issue that since Scotland, by itself, is not a current EU member state, there would be a lengthy examination of Scotland’s future economic potential and justification in an EU membership application.

If Scotland was to become independent today, where will the funding derive from to plug the lengthy application-process gap, since the UK Treasury will no longer have any obligation towards financial and economic support, and there is no guarantee that EU membership would be accepted?

In fact, the EC having had its financial fingers burned over the mistaken enlargement of the EU that incorporated several new members with poorly performing economies, there is a fair chance the EC would balk at allowing yet another small economy to join, without any trackrecord whatsoever on issues of governance and economic management.

The whole idea remains a pipe-dream in a world forced, these days, to take careful note of actual realities. Derek Farmer, Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.