Calm waters

Nicola Sturgeon has declared Scotland would win major shipbuilding contracts even if it became an independent country, as Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross insisted the Independence movement was ‘sinking’.

If that's the case why did she recently commission Turkey to build two ferries for Scotland?

Pauline Downie Yes, what a great reference it is given the ferry fiasco. We need that level of financial and operational incompetence when building naval defence frigates. But of course, Scotland wouldn't need any ships as it wouldn't be able to afford any armed forces.

Bill Aitchison

She is totally off her trolley! Why not ask the people to vote Yes or No to get rid of the Scottish devolved assembly? It would be interesting to find out the result from the people.

Maureen Taylor Not really, you would be slaughtered. 48% voted SNP at the last election.

James Thomas Kilpatrick You can’t count on all of that 48% voting for for Indy even if they did vote SNP.

Ela Na

She can't even deliver a few ferries. To talk about winning ‘major shipbuilding contracts’ is laughable.

Alastair Browne As soon as Sturgeon announced Indy Scotland was going to build frigates, Lorna Slater sent her an email on the viability of using recycled bottles for this venture.

Grumpy Shipbuilding is useful and would continue in an independent Scotland but it’s not actually that significant for the economy. Say we built local patrol ships for Scotland and not the big killer ships for England, that would not make or break to any extent the economy. For example, aquaculture is far far bigger. Far too emphasis on these old-fashioned industries because of ancient beliefs about projecting power.

Torquil Clyde Typical Nat response. Supports over 6,000 jobs but never mind, it's a small contributor to the overall economy so to hell with those working in that industry. ‘Freedom’ at any cost, eh? And the idea we'd be building a naval fleet of any kind for Scotland is, frankly, complete fantasy.

Dave Forrester Torquil Clyde, patrol boats only do that, patrol and report. So supposing we have patrol boats in an independent Scotland, and they come across a hostile incursion into Scottish waters, who are they going to report to, Scottish ggovernment? What will they do? Give them a stern ticking off, and tell them to go away? Scotland has over 6,000 miles of coastline to protect, never mind the seaborne infrastructure, and you think a few patrol boats will be enough?

Anna Mosspaul If this is so, why doesn't she get the contracts and build them!

Peter Shortland