Look at figures

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Letters on independence appear daily on these pages and cherry picking is common to both sides. Still, it’s strange to argue, as Gill Turner does, that SNP supporters should put their fingers in their ears and whistle. Instead look at what might happen in the Holyrood elections. People vote for different reasons when seeking an MSP to represent them and when voting for the long-term future of the country.

Ignoring the facts can lead to disaster, as Brexit shows. Maybe a little factual information would be helpful. There have been three independent sets of polls in the last four weeks and they are remarkably consistent. For independence they were, successively, 45, 44 and 45 per cent, while for unity they were 49, 47 and 48 per cent. Those who were undecided varied from 6 to 9 per cent. This doesn’t suggest that there is any enthusiasm to split Scotland away from the UK. For a major constitutional change a strong majority is essential – anything close to 50 per cent, means that around half the nation is left frustrated and furious with the outcome – as the referendums in 2014 and 2016 have shown.

HELEN HUGHES

Edinburgh