Outsider view

I t i s ve r y k i n d f o r S i r Jo h n Major to suggest that the SNP b e allowed another chance to break up the UK. Indeed, he even sug gests that there b e t wo referenda. It is obvious that he did not have to live through the turmoil of the first. He should also bear in mind that the No vote won the 2014 referendum and the leaders of the SNP signed an agree - ment to respect the result. Of course, they haven’t done so. O n e q u e s t i o n S i r Jo h n d i d n o t a d d r e s s , h owe ve r, wa s why we bothered to have the first referendum at all, if he is happy to let the separatists h ave a n o t h e r g o a t b r e a k - i n g u p o u r c o un t r y d e s p i te t h e i r l o s i n g t h e f i r s t o n e ? Does he realise that, had the SNP won, there would never have been a second referendum?

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh it is tainted with the irresistible suspicion there is something explosive she is desperate to cover up.

Pe r h a p s i t s h o u l d a l s o b e of concern to SNP supp or ters that such disresp ect for democracy may trump their i n d e p e n d e n c e a s p i r a t i o n s . If, as they hope, a majority of SNP MSPS is returned in the May elections on a ticket for a s e c o n d r e f e r e n d u m t h e n the procedure would be presumably to carry a vote in the Scottish parliament requesting a Section 30 order to initiate the referendum process. But if the First Minister can wantonly disregard democracy by rejecting the decisions o f t h e S c o t t i s h Pa r l i a ment , why would it b e any differ - ent if Boris Johnson followed her example and played the Trump card?

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh