Editorial Comment:
SIR – Peter Ferguson (Letters, April 25) is right: the international romance and renown of Scotland was overwhelmingly spread under the banner of the Union, not the saltire alone. Scotland, a great nation, was made greater still when it joined hands with the Auld Enemy.
It is as he appeals to his fellow Scots while writing from Hertfordshire, however, that Mr Ferguson highlights the true cynicism of the SNP. Based on the party’s policy at the last referendum, he would be denied any say over the future of his birth country. So, too, would many others proudly claimed by Scotland as its own – from Sir Alexander Fleming and John Logie Baird to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and James Boswell – who garnered much of their fame while living abroad.
Set alongside the SNP’s decision to give the adult vote to 16-year-olds (likely to have socialist inclinations until they know more), this robbing of Scottish people’s birthright, presumably due to the suspicion that those who live and work abroad may be more likely to see the benefits of the Union, looks deeply suspicious – and is certainly a poor foundation upon which to build an independent nation. Victor Launert
Matlock Bath, Derbyshire
SIR – Once again, a small but highly energetic minority in this country has become the tail wagging the dog.
The polls suggest that around 50 per cent of Scottish residents are proindependence (report, April 29). This means that a little less than 5 per cent of the total UK population could precipitate a massive change that will affect over 60 million other people. Bruce Simpson
Fleet, Hampshire
SIR – It is argued that the whole of the UK should decide the rules in the event of another independence referendum. Had that logic been applied at the time of the EU referendum, we would still be stuck there.
David Miller
Chigwell, Essex
SIR – It is not just banks that are likely to leave Scotland in the event of a vote for independence, but also a host of companies seeking to take advantage of the trade agreements negotiated by the British Government since Brexit.
Moreover, if Nicola Sturgeon fails to reduce GDP debt to 3 per cent from the current 10 per cent, her dream of EU membership will remain just that. David Taylor
Lymington, Hampshire
SIR – The “Union dividend” of £2,500 for all Scots (report, 28 April) may be factually true, but is misleading.
London, the South East and the East are the only regions of the UK which generate more in tax revenues than they receive in public spending.
Scotland’s “dividend” is less than those received by the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the North East. Heading the list are Wales and Northern Ireland at £4,412 and £5,118 respectively.
Isi Watt