EU poll needed

Professor Marc Weller’s article on Scottish EU accession (Perspective, February 16) deserves some comment.

First, when will the SNP government hold a referendum on Scottish EU membership? No mention has been made of this. If the changed circumstances of Brexit justify Indyref2, then the same circumstances demand a referendum on EU membership – 62 per cent of Scots voting for the UK to remain in the EU does not mean a majority of Scots would want an independent Scotland to join the EU, especially taking into account the consequences of Brexit.

Second, keeping the island of Ireland border-free to secure the Irish peace process was a major Brexit-deal stumbling block. There is no such peace process across the open Scotland-england border. What benefit would there be for the EU in wasting time and effort negotiating new trade arrangements with the Westminster government specifically for the Scottish border, just to accommodate Scottish membership? Scotland would have to sign up to the EU’S postbrexit trade deal. A hard border with England is the only possible outcome. As an independent country it would be entirely Scotland’s problem to deal with the consequences of this.

Third, there is the SNP assumption of EU funding for parts of Scotland with geographically disadvantaged status. However, if an independent Scotland would be the world’s 15th wealthiest country (as frequently claimed by some Scotsman letter writers), the EU would expect Scotland to contribute far more than we receive in special funding. Still carrying the costs of the financial crisis, the Greek debt crisis and Covid, EU members are unlikely to want to accept a new member holding out the begging bowl for funds, while simultaneously claiming fabulous wealth.

If the SNP are serious about democracy, a referendum on EU membership is essential, with Scots honestly informed of the full consequences of membership.

DONALD MCCALLUM Crosskirk Crescent, Strathaven