Financial mayhem has exposed the fantasy of independence aspiration

Published on Sunday 12 October 2008 21:34

Without doubt, the silver lining to the banking crisis has been the great opportunity afforded the people of Scotland to see through the great SNP independence delusion.

All the so-called tiger economies held up by the SNP as examples to follow have slunk away like little pussy cats with their tails between their legs.

All the advice we've been given by the Nationalists' banker friends – Scotland can go it alone – when it came to the crunch has been exposed as worthless.

And the only solution the SNP government of Scotland could come up with is, like the rest of the world, to follow Westminster's lead on the crisis.

Of course, we can all be tigers when times are good, but when times are bad that's when we rely on our true friends for support.

The stark truth of the matter is that in a global economy no country is truly independent. Scots should be grateful that they've been given such a timely lesson at such little cost. And they should put some distance between themselves and the crackpots who think differently.

ROBERT VEITCH

Paisley Drive

Edinburgh

Thank goodness for the Union. Without English money, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland would have sunk, taking our savings with them. If Scotland were independent, its banks would have gone the way of Iceland's.

Icelandic banks, Sir Fred Goodwin at RBS and Alex Salmond are like three little frogs who have blown themselves up into toads full of flatulence. Iceland has just popped and Sir Fred has been rescued by all the Queen's horses and all the Queen's men.

Mr Salmond's fantasy of an independent Scotland relied on having two big Scottish banks, but that's history now. If our savings are safe, it's thanks to England, so perhaps Mr Salmond should say thank you to Westminster for us.

DAVID ROSEWARNE

East Broughton Place

Edinburgh

It is a very superficial analysis (Debate & Opinion, 10 October) that suggests Iceland's banks having over-extended themselves, like those in many large countries such as the UK and US, is a blow to Scottish independence.

As a nation, Scotland has much more in common with Norway – which, like many small countries in Europe, has no banking crisis – in respect of its similar mixed economy, size of population, social democracy and natural assets such as oil gas and fishing.

It is those countries, like the UK, which have had lax financial regulations over the past ten years which are suffering the most, and that is thanks to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling.

CALUM STEWART

Montague Street

Edinburgh

Unlike Scotland, small independent Norway, with control of her oil and gas revenues, is now one of the most financially stable countries in the world. I am surprised that in these days of uncertainty in global markets this fact has not been mentioned by the Scottish press or media.

DONALD J MACLEOD

Woodcroft Avenue

Bridge of Don, Aberdeenshire

Your report "British savers denied their own cash by Iceland Bank" (8 October) was inaccurate.

Money deposited in a bank belongs to the bank until such time as the depositor can claim it back again.

RONALD RANKIN

Coates House

Dalkeith, Midlothian