Indyref2 on hold

Tom Peterkin sums up the logical view that the First Minister should take of indyref2 namely, that she must have “little appetite to agitate for a referendum that she has no guarantee of winning” (‘Uncertainty over Brexit set to delay indyref2, hints Sturgeon’, Scotsman, 9 August). Yet political posturing might well outweigh logic on this particular issue.

In a separate report (‘Independence could see whisky levy, income tax rises and a health fee’, 9 August), analysis of the SNP’S Growth Commission report by economist Professor John Mclaren, reveals that the level of economic pain an independent Scotland would need to go through would be greater than the report was prepared to admit to, with a number of glaring cost omissions and underplaying of necessary spending cuts

Yet economics might also not be a key driver of whether the First Minister decides to press the indyref2 button.

As Nicola Sturgeon demonstrated with her initial call for a second referendum in the wake of the EU referendum result, she is not immune to the temptation to wrest back control of the political agenda.

Perhaps in October we will find out which Nicola Sturgeon is in command, the realist, the opportunist, or the gambler.

KEITH HOWELL West Linton, Peeblesshire