Sir, – I found it rather odd that Jim Sillars said he will not vote for Scottish independence if it meant an independent Scotland would have to rejoin the EU (March 8).
Mr Sillars, who as deputy leader coined the Independence in Europe slogan for the SNP, was a key independence campaigner in the 2014 referendum when a major aspect of that campaign was EU membership for an independent Scotland.
Mr Sillars must also surely be well aware of the difference between the political union that is the UK, with sovereignty held at Westminster, and the EU, comprising a union of nation states that pool and share their sovereignty.
He would sadly see us remain part of the UK, than join the likes of Denmark, Ireland, Austria and Finland in the EU.
He would rather we remain part of the UK, than have full control over the levers of power currently held at Westminster, from nuclear weapons to social security.
Mr Sillars also comments that EU membership means handing over control to unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.
As one looks at the 800 unelected members of the Lords, it seems surreal he would rather power continues to be held at Westminster.
It should also be noted that in the EU, the Commissioners are appointed by elected national governments, the parliament is directly elected, and the Council of Ministers is represented by elected ministers from national governments.
It is so sad that someone who has been such a strong advocate of Scottish independence over many years has decided to turn his back on this.
Alex Orr.
77 Leamington Terrace,
Edinburgh.
Limited pool of television talent
Sir, – Your correspondent Bryan Auchterlonie (March 6) expresses his dilemma about BBC Scotland very well, but fails to understand it.
He thinks a “Scottish Six” would be a good idea, yet recognises correctly that a sweep-out of the existing personnel would be a pre-requisite for it to work satisfactorily.
The problem is that we must allow talented individuals to pursue their own careers. Such is the dearth of true talent in broadcasting generally that anyone showing any real flair is gobbled up by the networks.
The reality is that broadcasting to five million people will never be able to justify the sort of salary that broadcasting to 60-plus million can attract, so it is to recognise this and not to cast a slur on Scotland, far less Scots people, to accept that BBC Scotland will never be up to the mark.
If BBC Scotland is to build a solid news-oriented base, it needs to identify issues where there is a genuinely specific Scottish angle and create current affairs (rather than news) programmes to cover them, not the vapid Timeline nor the thankfully ditched Scotland 2016.
They could begin by not simply re-running items which have already been dealt with adequately by the network news. If they want to be taken seriously they need to ditch their red-top thinking.
A C Grant.
Alturlie,
Freuchie.
Culture bid contradiction
Sir, – Do the various of levels of the SNP speak to each other?
At present, the SNP-led Perth and Kinross Council is bidding for Perth to become the United Kingdom City of Culture.
This is one level of the SNP. The other, the higher level, is demanding that Scotland leaves the United Kingdom altogether and wants a referendum to secure that ideal.
Surely both levels know that they cannot both win.
Is this the time for the SNP leadership to make a decision that either it drops its mantra for independence and puts its resources behind Perth, or tells Perth and Kinross Council to drop its bid and saves a lot of taxpayers’ money?
We all know that Nicola Sturgeon will not make that decision but perhaps an SNP official will be good enough to explain what the decision will be.
Of course, it is not only Perth that is bidding for the accolade but Paisley is also hoping to become UK City of Culture.
I do not know who is on the judging panel but I am sure they will give more credence to a city which will still be in the United Kingdom in 2021 than one which may not be.
Ian Gray.
44 Balvaird Place,
Perth.
No deficit of democracy
Sir, – Many of your correspondents claim there is a democratic deficit in Scotland due to the election of a Government they don’t agree with.
Nicola Sturgeon claims Theresa May has no mandate to rule in Scotland.
I thought the referendum of 2014 wiped out any democratic deficit and gave the UK Government a full mandate to rule in Scotland?
The whining about Scotland staying in the single market is rubbish.
It is clear the European hierarchy and nations will not even contemplate any separate deal for a part of the whole and blaming the UK Government is futile and nasty.
RJ Soutar.
Camperdown Street,
Dundee.
Last thing we need is division
Sir, – I would have thought Perth and Kinross Councillor Dave Doogan would have known better than to have made his anti- English, divisive statement.
We should all be looking for things that bring us together not tear us apart.
When we look at the Middle East, where different branches of Islam are at one another’s throats, Palestine where Arab and Jew cannot live together and, of course, closer to home, Ireland where religious divisions have caused misery for generations, we really do not need any politicians here in Scotland looking to divide us whether it is on the basis of religion, skin colour or just the language we use or our accents.
Councillor Mac Roberts.
Perth and Kinross Council,
Ward One.
Carse of Cowrie.
Sadiq Khan was correct
Sir, – Sadiq Khan was right to compare Scottish nationalism to racist and religious intolerance as those like me with an English spouse know only well.
I recall the 2014 independence referendum as a time of unprecedented political discord driven by the need of the Salmondistas to distance Scots from the rest.
The “blood and soil” language of 1930s European fascism poisoned the debate making a mockery of the vaunted self-image of Scots as a friendly and caring people. Nothing shows the complete lack of self-reflection among nationalists than the disproportionate outrage directed towards Mr Khan.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.