Polling power

The Brexit deadlock has made some Remain voters in Scotland turn in favour of independence, according to elections expert Professor Sir John Curtice.

So why don’t they go for it then? Truth is they’re scared in case the UK Government offers them full fiscal autonomy. How would the Scots balance the books?

Tommy Thomson

Westminster won’t give the Scottish Parliament full fiscal autonomy for two reasons. Firstly, it would show how much money Westminster actually takes from Scotland, not what it says it does, and secondly, they are scared that the Scottish Government will actually run Scotland in a far better way than Westminster would ever chose to.

Lee Blacklaw

If you look at the state of our public services, particularly education, then there is no evidence that that will happen.

Hazel Cowan Support for independence has never been so high and will dramatically increase once the Tories make Johnson their leader and by default the unelected PM. The direction of travel is very obvious.

Simon Cook

So that would mean a third referendum as it’s too close to accept a Yes vote.

Robert Mcfarlane

Nope, if it’s 51 per cent that’s it, we are off. That’s the rules.

Michael Winters

Oil revenue counts for around 1.5 per cent of UK tax revenue, but accounts for around 20 per cent of Scottish revenue. Are you really happy to rely on one sector to provide your income, especially as the world moves away from that very sector. Whilst the UK could survive without oil revenue, Scotland would struggle. I’m not saying Scotland can’t become an independent nation, but the SNP should tell the truth about what it would entail. If you think Brexit is bad, then the Scottish equivalent of leaving the UK would be ten times as bad, and the austerity measures needed to be brought in just to balance the books would be frightening.

Shaun Stevens

Let the Scots have their independence. And see how long you last without Westminster funding.

Johnpu Puzey

Struggling to see how much more austerity, chronic incompetence and toxic Tory nonsense the blindfolded sheep voting against need to suffer before waking up.

Carla Kaspar Organisers of Edinburgh’s winter festivals have pleaded for a rethink over a controversial decision to ban the popular festive ice rink from historic St Andrew Square,

I applaud the decision NOT to allow this rink in St Andrew Square. Not every square inch of Edinburgh needs to be turned over to tacky tourist attractions which turn the city into Benidorm! Every time the square is used for festivals, it’s out of action for months while repairs restore it. Tourist industry bosses need to rethink why people come to Edinburgh.

Nicholas Burns Cumming The entire Christmas Festival needs rethinking, as it is getting really tired and predictable. How about locating the ice rink and a few stalls elsewhere in the city, so that it isn’t just city centre businesses that benefit from the increased footfall? The area in front of Ocean Terminal for instance, or Bristo Square, or Inch Park, which is next to Cameron Toll? Perth did an amazing weekend last year with market stalls filling streets, live music, kids entertainment, bands, choirs, fireworks and more – all coinciding with the Christmas lights switch-on. I heard dozens of people say they’d never struggle to Edinburgh’s tired German market again! The festival that started off a reasonable size and lasted two or three weeks over Christmas and New Year was great. It now lasts over a month and takes over the whole city centre and actually ruins the festive runup to Christmas for many, so the loss of outdoor ice skating is actually no big deal.

Lorraine Blyth

All Underbelly can see is profits slipping away. They don’t care about shops or anything else and are now getting desperate.

Brian Stewart

So many ‘Bah, humbug’ miseries on here! Guess what, it’s Christmas and you live in a tourist town whether you like it or not. At least this thing is for the majority of people, unlike most of the council’s other ventures .

Steve Ramsay

Stop turning the city centre into a fairground for half the year. If they want a venue, buy some land and build one.

John Innes