Give me the reasons why not

I AM pretty apolitical and certainly not a keen supporter of any of the main parties in Holyrood, likely leaning towards the Green Party if any. I have always enjoyed and admired Iain Macwhirter’s writings. I sense a change, however, in recent times that has seen him become possibly less impartial on the subject of independence. His article last week (“Indy is in Sturgeon’s DNA just as much as Salmond’s, but ...”, April 4) perhaps reflects that change.

What I took from it is that the time for independence is not now. He also says: “Only if you are a radical, an insurgent, a risk-taker – yes, a gambler – does independence really make sense, at least right now.” I don’t regard myself as any of these things yet I think independence makes sense. Now.

Mr Macwhirter goes on to suggest a host of possible reasons to not be independent, including currency, losing the monarchy, a possible hard border, getting back into the EU, the time things would take, and he also quotes the Institute for Government on the difficulties and possible hardships of independence – a body that is hardly impartial on this subject. Ultimately, none of his reasons stand up. I will need a much more cogent argument as to why now is not the time and why independence shouldn’t happen.

I read a great deal on both sides of the discussion but I am still waiting to read, or hear, a sensible and persuasive argument against “why wouldn’t you?”.

The discussion on independence has moved on, and it’s now incumbent on those who don’t want independence, and so run all of our own affairs, to come up with sensible reasons why we shouldn’t. I’m not holding my breath. George Archibald, Lasswade.