Boris Johnson as Prime Minister would not be extra catalyst for independence

Some people simply dream (Independence: a question of when, not if, Letters, 19 July). ‘Independence’ is an overused word these days. It is easy to say but well nigh impossible to achieve with any degree of success.

Boris Johnson is not a catalyst for independence. The nationalists in both Scotland and Wales do not like anyone in No 10 Downing Street so Mr Johnson is not some kind of extra incentive.

The Union might not be perfect, of course it isn’t, but seeing the ongoing problems created by both the Welsh, and to an even greater extent, the Scottish devolved administrations, is a pointer to both of these institutions being unfit to run the entire country. These politicians are ruining people’s lives by ignoring realities on the ground for pie in the sky myths.

If politicians truly want to help the entire community, both here in Scotland and in Wales, they would fix the everyday problems of their constituents first.

Independence is one small step by a leader, one giant disaster for the country.

GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow

What a shambolic mess the SNP has made of Scotland:

• The highest level of alcoholism in Europe.

• The highest rate of specific cancers in Europe.

• The highest rate of narcotic addiction in Europe .

• One of the highest levels of poverty in Europe .

• One of the lowest levels of education in Europe .

Get rid of these ridiculous SNP politicians, starting with Sturgeon.

SIR GAVIN GILBEY, BT

Torwood House, Dornoch

I never cease to be amazed at those who still want to be ruled by the current bunch of London politicians yet think Scotland, with our highly educated population and vast natural resources, plus a balance of trade surplus, can’t be a successful independent nation.

Douglas Cowe (Letters, 22 July) failed to explain that the income tax “shortfall” refers to a period prior to Scottish Income Tax being introduced and at a time when the Scottish government relied on UK tax forecasts.

As the UK income tax take for 2017-18 was £7 billion lower than expected, the UK Treasury deducted £737 million more from Scotland’s block grant in 2017-18 than it should have. The UK is simply correcting its forecasting mistake.

As the Scottish Parliament has only limited and restricted tax powers, any government faces a fiscal trap as it leaves Scotland dependent on someone else’s system of tax and only able to make tweaks to one particular tax – income tax – with no way of altering any other tax such as corporation tax or VAT, etc.

Brexit is to blame for sluggish growth and Britain’s public finances will deteriorate by £30 billion a year even in a “relatively benign” nodeal scenario, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.

MARY THOMAS

Watson Crescent, Edinburgh

As usual, the SNP is blaming everyone else for Scotland’s failing economic position.

Scotland’s year on year drop in retail sales of 3.1 per cent has been blamed on Westminster and Brexit.

How, then, do they explain the UK rise of 3.8 per cent for