The answer remains emphatically ‘no’

Sir, – On what grounds precisely does the SNP base its case for the holding of another referendum on the question of Scotland leaving the UK?

As I recall, a devolved Scottish Parliament was formed under the terms of an Act of Parliament of the UK in 1998.

With the agreement of Prime Minister David Cameron, a referendum on the question of Scotland becoming independent of the UK was held in 2014, which resulted in a marked defeat for the separatists.

Since their complete failure to win over the electorate in the 2014 referendum, the SNP has continued in its attempts to try to convince Scottish voters to support its cause.

There have been the usual woad-festooned marchers, clad in tartan, with independence banners at various gatherings – together with a multitude of utterances by key SNP figures to loyal supporters of the cause.

But the truth of the matter is the people of Scotland have made it quite clear that they do not wish to leave the UK.

So what have we got to do to convince the SNP of this fact? It really does seem that the minority SNP administration is oblivious to the fact that the Scottish economy is in such a diabolic state. Recent GERS figures for Scotland make very hard reading; even the Finance Minister Derek Mackay seems to be in denial over this; but then perhaps that is hardly surprising.

The truth of the matter is the Scottish Government has no powers to challenge the UK Parliament over the question of its right to hold another ‘Scottish independence’ referendum.

Westminster has the power over the constitution.

Without its agreement any referendum held in Scotland over such a matter would be irrelevant and illegal.

It really is totally unacceptable that a relatively small nation like the UK cannot remain united.

Over the centuries it has seen off many invaders and has never wavered in the face of adversity. It is sad therefore to find that the enemy is within. Robert I G Scott. Northfield, Ceres, Fife.