Nicola Sturgeon has no authority to call for a second independence referendum

Hugh Kerr talks about a second referendum and seems to assume that Nicola Sturgeon has “the authority” to call for one in Scotland (Letters, 26 September). I’m afraid not. Ms Sturgeon has no authority for that any more than Mr Corbyn has one to call for a second referendum on the EU.

However, such calls are an excellent indicator of those whose idea of democracy is getting their own way, whatever the opinion of the majority may be. Luckily for all of us, many have tried to change things in the UK – usually from outside – but some from inside, and they have never succeeded.

The socialism Mr Kerr longs for almost destroyed us in the Seventies, assisted most ably by the unions and agents of the Soviet Union. They did not succeed then and they won’t now.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh

Former Labour MEP for Essex West and Hertfordshire East Hugh Kerr talks about the Brexit “shambles” but then says that there should be a new Scottish independence referendum in two years regardless of whether it is legal or not. Then we would have a supershambles.

Former Press Officer to Tommy Sheridan Mr Kerr seems oblivious to the change in the European Union since Maastricht as it moves swiftly toward “a country called Europe” with its own laws, currency, fiscal policy, military, flag, anthem, airspace and railway. Mr Kerr confuses “our links with Europe” with those of the EU.

The linkages between Auld Scotland and Europe predate the EU and will remain after the EU has gone which, with its internal schisms, may come sooner rather than later.

We must be in Europe but not controlled by Europe. I don’t know how Mr Kerr, as a socialist, could disagree with Richard Leonard when the Scottish Labour leader says that the difficulties faced by the less well-off by the Clyde are no different from those by the Mersey.

WILLIAM LONESKIE

Justice Park Oxton, Lauder