Austerity max

According to Joyce McMillan (Perspective, 23 January), many who backed the SNP in the referendum did so because they were protesting against Westminster austerity and perceived unfairness (giving credence to the old Ken Clarke MP claim that the trouble with a referendum is that some will use it to vote on other issues).

Those who back the SNP, for whatever reason, must grasp that were Scotland to be independent, things would be bad because of the oil price collapse – it would be austerity Scotland with a vengence.

William Ballantine

Dean Road

Bo’ness, West Lothian