Sir, Is there really any need for a further debate on TV between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling? The weaknesses in the SNP case for independence were thoroughly exposed in the last joust between the two.
With the polls following the Darling/Salmond debate indicating 57% “no” and 43% “yes”, I would suggest that the separatists are on a slippery slope. Mr Salmond’s increasingly tiresome insistence that an independent Scotland would be able to keep the pound is falling on deaf ears. The leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal parties have all emphasised that Scotland could not remain in a sterling zone if it leaves the UK.
In First Minister’s Questions on August 7 we were again subjected to Mr Salmond’s latest stock phrase: “It’s our pound and we are keeping it!” If he says it often enough he may convince himself and some of his devotees, but not thinking members of the electorate.
Indeed, there is evidence to suggest that the SNP sterling plan could result in banks and other financial institutions, currently based in Scotland, deciding to head south. As we are aware, the financial sector in Scotland currently employs a very large number of people. Do we really wish to see an exodus of this important part of the economy?
It is clear that an independent Scotland would not have the Bank of England as its automatic lender of last resort. That is why the leaders of the unionist parties are constantly asking Mr Salmond: “What is your plan B?”
Too often of late we have been subjected to Mr Salmond’s bluster when faced with difficult questions about SNP policies. Now that he is on the “back foot” let us show him that we completely reject his plan to isolate Scotland from what has been, for more than 300 years, a sound political and financial union.
I am a Scot by birth, but I am also British and wish to remain so.
Robert I G Scott. Northfield, Ceres.
Scots won’t be persuaded
Sir, Dan Snow persuaded a collection of so-called celebrities (most of them well past their sell by date), to support his campaign for a “no” vote in the forthcoming referendum. Mr Snow and his ilk seek to persuade the gullible that they positively adore Scotland and Scots should vote to keep the union. I cannot imagine any Scot will be swayed by the likes of Simon Cowell or Mick Jagger’s protestations of love for Scotland.
I am voting yes in the referendum because I do not wish to see our NHS go the same way as England and I no longer wish to be governed by the likes of David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith. The prospect of the Tories and the Lib Dems continuing in power after the next election is dismal indeed.
It is clear the establishment will welcome the interference of the likes of Mr Snow in the referendum, as well as any businessman they can persuade to back Better Together and we can expect more scare stories from them in the run-up to the vote in September.
James Smith. 4 Brownhill Place, Camperdown, Dundee.
He would have to resign . . .
Sir, In the increasing likelihood of a vote for Scotland to stay in the UK, can we expect to see the resignation of Mr Salmond from the position of Scotland’s First Minister?
It would be incongruous in the extreme for Scotland to be led and represented by a man who has so clearly demonstrated his dislike of the United Kingdom and all that it stands for, and it is difficult to see how he could properly and honestly represent Scotland in a continuing union partnership.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Russians in a strong position
Sir, According to newspaper reports Russia has launched a trade war by banning imports from the west. Did the west expect President Vladimir Putin to roll over in response to their sanctions over the Ukraine crisis? The Russian people are well used to hardships.
Scotland exported £50 million to Russia last year while the EU agricultural exports were £9.36 billion. Russia closing its airspace will increase the cost of tickets. Mr Putin also has another card to play the Russian oil and gas taps to Europe can be turned off. Europe is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas.
Millions of jobs all over Europe are at risk and Germany alone has 300,000 jobs dependent on maintaining exports to Russia.
As Europe grinds to a standstill politicians had better beware as the unemployed take to the streets in anger that their jobs are being sacrificed for political ideology.
Daniel Arnott. St Brycedale Court, Kirkcaldy.
Hospital ban is the right move
Sir, I am in complete agreement with Edinburgh Royal Infirmary’s decision to place a ban on non-urgent cases being seen by vascular surgeons. I realise this policy may not be popular with smokers needing treatment, however, in 2014 there is considerable help available in the form of government-funded, self-help classes, support groups medication and help-lines to enable people to stop.
With vascular issues that have been caused by smoking there is little point in surgeons wasting valuable resources, already limited, on correcting a problem that will reoccur in patients who smoke and refuse to stop.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.