Tax levels will have to rise after separation

Sir, Your correspondent Yowann Byghan is clearly a staunch supporter of the SNP and lists some of its ‘achievements’.

These include such things as free tuition for students, lack of prescription charges, free school meals and so on. There is certainly a long list of these freebies that we have to thank the SNP for – or perhaps I should say the English taxpayer. Before pushing for independence, SNP supporters should ask themselves where does the money come from for all these benefits, and where would it come from if Scotland were to become independent?

Can it be that the SNP administration is so efficient compared to that in England that it can fund all these thing from the same tax levels as in England? Of course not; and, if we were independent, personal and business tax levels would have to rise sharply to cover the loss of support from England.

Furthermore, in disagreeing with the UK population over Brexit it is important to remember the largest part of Scotland’s trade is with the rest of the UK. Incidentally, 62 per cent of the Scottish population did not vote to remain part of the EU as only 67 per cent of voters bothered to vote and so the figure was much less than 50 per cent. Our First Minister would be wise to collaborate with the Westminster government to achieve the best result for the UK, including Scotland, instead of behaving like a spoiled child and trying to cause as much trouble as possible.

In the run up to 2014, we were told that the independence referendum was once in a generation. We did not vote for it and if Nicola is able to waste our money on another vote she will lose again. I write as a Scottish nationalist, but I believe we should protect our unique Scottish identity, but within the United Kingdom. ro o in a idson Ti h nan i ean Ard ern.