SNP owes apology for White Paper that is still causing bitterness over Indyref

Brian Wilson (“Catalonia is evidence of the benefits of a Union”, 1 June) is right to demand an apology from the SNP for their 2013 independence White Paper.

Andrew Wilson’s more honest report would have produced a ‘Yes’ vote under 40 per cent because people would read it and accept that, yes, any country can become independent, but without any truly compelling impetus the cost and timescale was not worth it.

Especially since, as he said to Gordon Brewer two weeks ago (Sunday Politics, 27 May): “We have to accept that we are more integrated than any other country that became independent since the war.”

A sub-40 per cent result would have settled the matter for a lifetime.

Instead, we have continued division, arguments for a re-run, an out-of-steam minority SNP Government and a very “B” team of MPS, failing economy and public services dragging Scotland down.

The SNP hyped this mammoth campaign leaflet – written by civil servants – to puff a core 28 per cent support up to 45 per cent by conning thousands of voters and to give others someone to blame other than themselves or fellow Scots for their grievances.

I’d go further than demand an apology. We need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to encourage people to speak out about what really went on when statistics and report were “edited” and previously well-run police, school, and health organisations were hollowed out.

We might even find some people up in court.

ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven

Brian Wilson decries the SNP’S Growth Commission report for starting with a conclusion and then working backwards.

Mr Wilson’s alternative “analysis” is that Scotland should look to Catalonia as a model of success to which we should aspire, rather than Denmark, Norway, Ireland and the other countries examined by the Growth Commission.

The rather glaring problem for Mr Wilson is that, according to the EU’S official statistics, Catalonia is substantially less well off than the likes of Ireland, Norway and Denmark. Indeed, it is also less wealthy than Scotland.

If I have understood this correctly, Mr Wilson is arguing – with a straight face – that Scotland should seek to emulate a place that is already worse off than us (because it is part of a Union, and that is good), rather than those that lead the way (because they are independent, and that is, apparently, bad).

Surely Mr Wilson isn’t starting from his own preferred conclusion and working backwards?

C HEGARTY Glenorchy Road, North Berwick

How can Nicola Sturgeon think the Growth Commission report will win over ‘No’ voters? She has done nothing but hold us in contempt, despite the fact that many decided on ‘No’ based on a White Paper rubbished as fantasy by the SNP itself.

Now she produces a report they are scared of themselves, being unwilling to debate it at their conference or to defend it in front of Andrew Neil or Marr, Question Time, etc. There is more chance of believing in Brigadoon.

KEN CURRIE Liberton Drive, Edinburgh