If Scotland is to be truly independent, the country should not be in the UK or EU

The SNP’S consultation on a draft referendum bill states that the intention is to once again ask “Should Scotland be an independent country?”

My dictionary defines being independent as being “not dependent or relying on others: not subordinate: completely self-governing: thinking or acting for oneself: too self-respecting to accept help”. This is arguably a noble aspiration – one that put fire in the heart of William Wallace (or at least the cinema portrayal of him).

Itdoesnot,however,describe Scotland’s situation were we to leave the UK and remain in or re-join the EU.

Even though I voted to remain in the EU, the notion that we need a referendum because EU membership, trade and handouts are more important to Scotland than the status we already have as an integral partner in the UK, makes me wonder if Brexiteers are in fact the true Bravehearts.

If we Scots are foolish enough to add to the existing uncertainty by holding another referendum, then the question should be honest and ask “Should Scotland Separate from the UK?” There should be no mention of Independence unless the intention is to remain outside of the EU.

Interestingly, myself and others who have tried could find nowhere on the Online Draft Referendum Consultation to comment on the misleading wording of the “question”.

If there is somewhere we can make this point, I would be grateful if someone would point it out. If there isn’t then I can only assume that the SNP don’t want the wording to reflect the reality.

MARK OPENSHAW Earlswells Road, Aberdeen The UK Government is again being berated for not having a plan to exit the European Union. Most negotiators want to remain in the Single Market, but that also means acceptance of open borders The UK does not accept open borders therefore we cannot retain access to the Single Market.

The opposite argument is that the EU needs the UK market as much as the UK needs the EU market. Germany sells 7 per cent of its car production to the UK – 350,000 cars per annum. Will Germany refrain from selling cars to the UK? No. Will the UK retain access to the Single Market? Probably Not.

In order to be successful the UK needs to increase productivity to around the same level as Germany and then we will not require access to the EU market.

JAMES MACINTYRE Clarendon Road, Linlithgow Having watched Nicola Sturgeon in a BBC interview recently all I can say is how incredibly impressive she is. She’s so clever, articulate and compassionate. Her message on Brexit compromise and the benefits of migration was superb stuff.

Despite all the constant sexist and vile abuse she receives online, she always rises above it. When Scotland finally achieves the freedom to choose its own path in future, you could not wish for a better person to be in charge. You Scots are lucky to have her. A class act indeed. ALAN GREGORY

Henllan Denbighshire, Wales I can’t put out of my mind the fact that it was England and Wales who wanted out, not Northern Ireland or Scotland. Can we all, in the South of Ireland, not talk with you, our neighbours in the North of Ireland and Scotland, to see if we can join together and continue our involvement in Europe under the same umbrella?

We in the South of Ireland have to consider creating a hard border with the North of Ireland.

Is it worth considering if you in Scotland would be happy to consider re-establishing the hard border with England – so much of the wall is already there!

And Belfast is the more than obvious and ideal capital. Is this not a win-win for all?

ANDY MAGUIRE Kincora Road, Dublin It seems that anything Nicola Sturgeon wants comes with the warning, “or I will call a second referendum on independence”. However, she has also confirmed that it will not happen in 2017.

I would have thought that this gives the UK Government a free hand to decide to do whatever it wants as regards the EU. We will find out the shape of the agreement in due course, probably by 2019 and will leave the EU thereafter.

Quite what the appeal will be to Scottish voters to leave the UK at that point, or before remains unclear.

Scotland would have no currency of its own. It would still have, in all likelihood, a staggering deficit. It would also have no access to the EU on preferential terms.

It is hard to know what pressure this is supposed to put on the government, when the level of support for breaking up the UK in Scotland is sagging.

However, it means that the SNP can now drop their only policy and try to do the job of running the Scottish Executive for a change.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh

the world’s biggest iceberg, measuring 1,900 square miles. He said “the growth in the fissure was not directly associated with climate change” and “This rift is decades old and it is more than likely that we can put this down to a natural development of the rift”.

Scientists added that the iceberg’s release, and eventual melting, will not raise sea levels directly.

Note the difference between real scientists and publicly funded climate scientists.

CLARK CROSS Springfield Road, Linlithgow