SNP voters opposed to another referendum

SIR – Opinion polls show a significant majority of Scots do not want another independence referendum.

This is the paradox of Scottish voters. They want to elect the Scottish National Party to manage Scotland’s economy, healthcare and education (though I can’t understand why, considering the SNP’s economic illiteracy, its inability to improve the NHS in Scotland and the ongoing destruction of the Scottish education system); yet they don’t back the party’s sole reason for existing.

Until Scots decide that they want good governance rather than constant agitation for independence, the Scottish economy, health and education systems will continue to decline, and children and the vulnerable will continue to pay the price for the nationalists’ obsession. Phil Coutie Exeter, Devon

SIR – Should Scotland become independent of the United Kingdom, I wonder what the constitutional position would be. Congestion in the House of Lords would be cut by a smidgeon, but would titles and honours be retained? Would the Queen remain head of state, or would Scotland go the way of the Republic of Ireland and adopt a president?

Presumably there would have to be a passport office and all the other costly paraphernalia of independent government. The Barnett formula has benefited Scotland, some would say disproportionately; but, on departure from the UK, Scotland would be collecting its own taxes. With oil income declining, the provision of free tertiary education and healthcare could no longer be sustained without a substantial hike in personal taxation. Dr Robert J Leeming Coventry, Warwickshire