Sinking Scotland

So the respected Fraser of Allander Institute confirms Scotland is “stuck in a weak cycle of growth” and makes clear it’s not just the widespread downturn in the oil and gas sector that’s to blame.

Apparently there’s a slowdown across a broad range of industrial sectors. Plus, worryingly, growth continues to lag way behind the UK as a whole, as it has since mid-2015.

Why is this? The SNP government bizarrely maintains Brexit is to blame, though why would Brexit negatively and selectively impact on only this part of the UK and no other?

The number one difference between Scotland and the rest of the UK is the SNP’S constitutional sword of Damocles that relentlessly hovers over us. Why open or expand a business in Scotland when years of constitutional upheaval might lie ahead, with no clarity on issues such as currency, the deficit and funding of public services in a post-oil boom world without the Barnett Formula comfort blanket?

And regrettably, Nicola Sturgeon’s recent announcement that indyref2 will never be off the SNP’S agenda increases the chances that Scotland’s economy will sink into recession.

MARTIN REDFERN Merchiston Gardens, Edinburgh

How refreshing it would be to hear our First Minister at FMQS with details of her latest economic development plan, while reporting on the successful progress of earlier initiatives, rather than banging on about Scotland’s best interests, while Scotland is on the edge of recession.

To sell independence in success mode might just work,

but in grievance and failure it is a non-starter. As with all single issue parties, when the issue goes away the party has nothing to fall back on. Could economic development be a constructive replacement for independence?

MALCOLM PARKIN Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood