Poll is a blip
“Brexit persuading Scots to support independence poll” (your report, 3 September). The Scottish National Party may be happy with this poll, giving welcome relief from the Salmond/sturgeon battle occupying the front page, but it is simply a glitch. The harder an exit the UK receives from the European Union, the more likely that the failure of the EU will be brought forward.
The EU is facing a meltdown in its financial dealings as well as insurrection in most of its constituent nations. The EU can ill afford to lose the muscle of the UK. Simply put, if Scotland voted for independence and tried to join the EU once Brexit has occurred, it would be a completely different organisation, membership of which the SNP would be hard pressed to sell to Scots.
By concentrating on independence, rather than trying to achieve a better Brexit deal for the UK, the SNP has, not for the first time, failed to appreciate future trends.
This poll is merely a blip. Scotland cannot and will not become independent, simply because the economics will never be right. It is time to move on. The EU is about to fail, just like the SNP’S unwanted desire to cast Scotland into an economic wilderness. The winner will be the UK.
(DR) GERALD EDWARDS
Broom Road, Glasgow
Although carried out by an organisation with no track record in the area, the Deltapoll survey showing a majority for independence in a postbrexit Britain will undoubtedly give a boost to nationalists.
It will encourage them even more to talk up a hard/no Deal Brexit rather than campaigning
with others to get as smooth a transition as possible. A hard Brexit will harm the whole UK, including Scotland. The SNP calculate this will help them politically, and they may be right.
If ever there was a case of a
party putting themselves and their cause before the good of the country, then this is it.
KEITH SHORTREED Cottown of Gight, Methlick, Aberdeenshire
The Prime Minister’s argucomment
ment against a “People’s Vote” on the EU beggars belief. How can consulting the voters again be a “gross betrayal” of democracy? That’s contradictory.
In 2016, the question was not clear or based on any reliable information. Just blind prejudice and lies by Brexiteers. Today many people’s eyes are opened and the full extent of the disaster facing the UK is clear. Opinion polls also indicate a change of heart.
It is only fair that, after the options become clear, another referendum is held to be sure that the Government acts in accordance with the wishes of the majority in the UK.
STEUART CAMPBELL Dovecot Loan, Edinburgh
Joyce Mcmillan (Perspective, 31 August) mentions “the growing independence movement” in Scotland. Upon what evidence is this bold statement based? The 2014 referendum result? Nationalists losing a third of their seats at the last general election? Recent opinion polls? Or maybe the fact that Ms Sturgeon now heads a minority government at Holyrood?
Perhaps she was simply referring to the number of SNP membership subscriptions this year.
M O’GORMAN Colinton Road, Edinburgh