Sir, On Thursday you published almost two pages devoted to the thoughts of four former NFUS presidents and their backing for the Yes campaign. Sadly, their ramblings show that they are ex-presidents and, therefore, perhaps now out of touch.
They list five key gains with independence; each one can be shot down easily.
1 No direct voice in Europe. As an independent country, it is now well documented that Scotland would have to join the queue to join the EU and would have no special treatment over other countries. This comes from the President of the Commission.
2 Scotland is currently well funded from the EU by being a part of the UK. As an independent country, however, it would get the same benefits as other new members, which would be a vast reduction on the current figures.
3 Exports. It is a brave man who predicts that exports will flourish in an independent Scotland given the current currency uncertainty. What will the currency be? What will the exchange rate be? What will interest rates be? Nobody knows, and the Yes campaign will not tell us.
4 Being part of the EU. The biggest threat is an independent Scotland outside the EU for years, and that is fact. The Scottish Government, and Richard Lochhead in particular, are currently letting Scotland down very badly by failing to get plans in on time to the EU on the subject of CAP reform and greening. Farmers are now planting 2015 crops with no idea as to what rules they should be following; get it wrong and severe losses apply in subsidy payments.
5 How perverse it is for Yes to say that the single farm payments will continue if an independent Scotland is outside the EU! An admission that there would be real problems getting into the EU. The only way to guarantee these payments is to vote “no” and rely on the strength of the UK.
These are the farming issues. Add to this the 20,000 defence-related jobs that would disappear, the downturn in oil revenues, the financial sector moving south, and much more and where would we be?
Three hundred years of successful union wrecked, not to be restored. Perhaps the last to leave might turn out the lights!
Andrew F Gilmour. Montrave Home Farm, Leven.
This will be a nightmare in the making
Sir, I, a minority voter in Scotland, believe in the future of nuclear energy, I also believe in Trident, especially with regard to the technical expertise that comes with the complete package.
The SNP state that everything nuclear will be removed from these shores and that their prohibition will be enshrined in a constitution. This is a recipe for a police state. A constitution is surely a device that protects the individual as well as ensuring that the individual has responsibilities.
A constitution should be positive not negative. To forbid elements of research and the industrial advances that can be gained by having nuclear programmes is a recipe that can only lead to industrial stagnation.
Now the NHS is to be “protected” by enshrining its public status in the constitution. Public health, like politics, is too important to leave to the politicians.
A written constitution in the hands of politicians is a nightmare in the making.
John Macmillan. 40 Ferry Road, Monifieth.
Don’t speak on our behalf
Sir, George Cormack stated in The Courier recently that £15 million is being spent on a referendum nobody wanted or wants! Does he mean HE didn’t want the referendum! Please Mr Cormack do not speak for me or the thousands of other people who do want a referendum.
Margaret Gibb. 5 The Barns, Burntisland.
Why won’t he join debate?
Sir, Re the independence debate on August 25.
The real leader of the No campaign is the Conservative and Unionist Prime Minister. His lack of a vote in the referendum is irrelevant.
Why won’t David Cameron take part in the Scottish independence debate on August 25? Is he afraid?
Eileen M Campbell. 10 Farfield Avenue, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire.
Needs to be stamped out
Sir, I was saddened to hear about the death of the talented and humorous actor Robin Williams, but I was more upset that abusive and grossly reprehensible tweets were sent to his daughter Zelda Williams forcing her to make the decision to close her Twitter account.
This is completely unacceptable that in the year 2014 there is still a stigma attached to those suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.
The latest statistics are that one in four people will suffer from mental health problems in a year and that British men are three times more likely to die by suicide than British women.
Is that perhaps because people are still stigmatising mental health and vile internet trolls are inferring that it is cowardly or selfish to commit suicide?
I myself have suffered from depression and now recovered but this kind of abuse on Twitter is far too commonplace and it needs to be stamped out forthwith.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.