Not so rosy

Gill Turner paints a rosy picture of the economy of an independent Scotland in the EU. UK countries, we are told, could relocate parts of their operations to Scotland and “maintain existing trading relationships”.

Presumably Ms Turner is referring to existing trading relationships with the EU – since, clearly, such companies or any companies already in Scotland could not maintain existing trading relationships with the UK.

This latter line is frequently peddled by separatists who are either ill-informed or disingenuous.

In the worst case scenario of a no-deal Brexit, trade between the EU and the UK will be subject to tariffs – in many cases hefty ones. All EU countries – including a putative independent Scotland – have to operate within EU trading arrangements.

They are not at liberty to negotiate separate trade agreements with the UK or any other country.

Currently, Scotland’s trade with the UK is four times that of its trade with the EU. It doesn’t sound like a good idea, therefore, to enter into

an agreement to facilitate a tariff-free deal on £12 billion worth of exports to the EU if that is going to entail a tariff laden deal on £45bn worth of exports to the UK.

Not a prospect to fill one with optimism.

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue,

Edinburgh

Some elements of the SNP appear to think that the EU will support any Scottish UDI whether or not supported by an indyref2 as long as Holyrood approves. But I see a snag: will the EU then also approve, in the face of Spanish opposition, a UDI by Gibraltar or Barcelona (or Northern Italy, Wallonia, etc), under similar conditions?

TIM FLINN Garvald, East Lothian