SNP’s ruinous obsession will cost us dearly

Seconds out, round two. Now that the UK has left the EU, Nicola Sturgeon is determined to keep the independence pot boiling as her fiefdom is ripped out of Europe without her permission.

Why would a party with a past record of opposing joining the EU become an advocate for it? Quite simply, political expediency.

Even before the 2014 referendum, realists in the SNP knew there was little chance of presenting a viable economic argument in their favour. This still holds true – endorsed by the party’s own Growth Commission.

So a new tack is required if ‘the cause’ is to be advanced.

Consequently, Scotland finds itself entering ‘round two’ of Ms Sturgeon’s quest for the history books. It now looks as though the SNP is making rejoining the EU its goal, with independence the route.

If successful, this would mean an independent Scotland has the EU acting as guarantor for its bad debts, with little need for a viable economic model.

This assumes the EU would break all of its rules to give a debtridden Scotland immediate entry.

Scotland is acceptable collateral damage in a one-policy party’s quest for separation at any cost. Graham Wyllie, Greengairs, Lanarkshire

If Nicola Sturgeon had given Friday’s speech when she became the SNP leader in 2014, kicked Scexit into the long grass and pledged to sort out Scotland first, she’d be looking at at least five more years in power and perhaps a real crack at independence.

Instead, she looked like she wanted to be anywhere else, all but announcing her departure to pastures new. Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

So that’s it: we’re out. It certainly was not my choice. But here we have the SNP leader announcing another push – one more heave – towards another referendum.

This is on the pretence that an independent Scotland would either ‘remain in’ or ‘quickly join’ the European Union.

But we are out and cannot ‘remain’ in. That was never an option. And how is Scotland to ‘quickly join’ the EU when it does not meet the entry requirements?

The SNP proposes using sterling or creating a new currency after separation. The former disqualifies Scotland from the EU – it is not possible to join using a third country’s currency – while the latter would take some time to establish.

The SNP faces a major dilemma that no constitutional committee is going to solve any time soon. Jill Stephenson, Edinburgh

As we leave behind our 47-year marriage to the EU, an uncertain future awaits, with divorce damaging our economy and the fabric of our society.

There’s no chance of our retaining a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Our only hope was to remain in the EU and amplify our voice by shaping its decisions. Instead, as an irrelevant archipelago, we’ll have to copy policies over which we have no say. So much for reclaiming sovereignty! Rev Dr John Cameron, St Andrews, Fife