Heads in the sand over independence

Sir, – Derek Farmer (November 25) remains blissfully unaware of the significant amount of printed material which answers his exact query.

This documentation sets out the thoughts and reasoning behind aspirations for independence including differing options for the potential scenarios that cannot be predicted in advance.

There is also a draft constitution being created which, if nothing else, actually defines the rights and responsibilities of the public at the same time as providing a means of control over elected officials and politicians, something that the UK does not have which, of course, results in Westminster doing what they like and adjusting the rules to suit themselves.

All of this documentation has been produced since 2013, remains valid today and is accompanied by similar documents from non-snp aligned groups and lately a series of white papers issued by Holyrood.

If Mr Farmer read these his own complaints would be answered.

He may continue with his opinion, which is his right of course, but at least he will then be aware of the opportunities that he is dismissing.

He uses the term “oppression”, which can be defined as “unjust treatment or exercise of authority”. If he compared what we would like to do with what we are compelled not to do he will see that this complaint is justified.

Our ability to do things differently to suit ourselves is hamstrung by Westminster decisions, which effectively means whatever England votes for is what we need to follow, with very little scope

to readjust finances to do much different. If Mr Farmer and people like him continue to keep their heads in the sand and refuse to read and understand what has been written they will remain uninformed.

Of course people are reluctant to change and invent things to justify that reluctance but they need to be aware of what they miss out on as a consequence. All of our current woes were made worse by the last 14 years of austerity coupled with the border-defending xenophobes inflicting us with Brexit, which itself was misplaced as the immigrant crisis is and always was with people from outwith the EU.

These all resulted in a lack of resilience in personal economy, huge queues for declining public services, and all meaning our ability to cope with Putin’s latest adventure being compromised. Do we want to continue with this charade led by the self-interested, incompetent oligarchs at Westminster? Nick Cole. Balmacron Farmhouse, Meigle.

ALL CHANGE: Liz Truss stands down as prime minister.