Unrealistic views

Leah Gunn Barrett makes comments which are at odds with reality (Letters, Wednesday). She seems to believe that Scotland can create its own currency overnight when the politicians such as Alex Salmond have made it perfectly clear that Scotland would continue with the pound if ever independence was achieved, something which is certainly not in view in the next 15-20 years.

Ms Barrett also claims Scotland would save billions on defence, as if defence was merely a choice. History should teach her the folly of small European countries that do not invest in their defence. Cemeteries throughout Europe are full of the bodies of British and American soldiers who gave their lives due to the utter folly of that sort of thinking.

She also states that Scotland would not have to shoulder a share of the national debt. In fact, the official position is that "an independent Scottish state would become responsible for a fair and proportionate share of the UK’S current liabilities." In other words, the national debt.

Perhaps a small word of advice would help her difficulty with Scotland's economic growth being half that of "similarly sized EU nations". That is caused by the SNP'S continuous campaign to break up the UK. People do not invest in unsettled economies. For investment growth, don't vote nationalist is the simple solution.

PETER HOPKINS Morningside Road, Edinburgh February 25). He says that he is appalled at her conduct in answering questions relating to the Salmond saga and that it was a blatant exploitation of her position to deal with questions outside the remit of a Covid briefing.

It's hard to believe that Mr Graham actually watched the briefing, but I did and Ms Sturgeon made it absolutely clear that the questions were outside the parameters of the briefing.

She stayed polite as a succession of journalists from metropolitan outlets persisted with questions on the Salmond inquiry even though she pointed out that their questions had already been dealt with several times.

The persistence of the journalists in question says much about their quality and agenda. They were either incapable of thinking up another question or determined to use their moment in the limelight regardless of what had gone before. At the end of the briefing, Ms Sturgeon gave a fulsome apology to all who had tuned in to hear information on Covid details alone. Information given in detail, of the kind listed in the letter from Mr Graham, but which he appears to have missed.

GILL TURNER Derby Street, Edinburgh