Beyond their ken

There have been several attempts by Nationalist contributors to your Letters pages as well as by the current Scottish administration to assure us that “of course” Scotland would remain in the European Union after the break-up of the United Kingdom.

Equally, they assure us that Scotland would remain part of the sterling area, though without any control over the all-important interest rates which will so deeply affect our economy, of course.

It is important that everyone should know what will actually happen if there is a vote to break up the Union. The European Commission was asked a direct question at the European Parliament in 2004 by a Welsh MEP as to what would happen if part of a member state became independent.

The answer should be studied carefully by all supporters of independence.

The EC said: “The newly independent state would be outside the EU and would need to apply for membership of the EU in the same way as any other non-member”, concluding: “If an independent Scotland lost its EU membership, it would also lose the current opt-outs unless member states agreed it could keep them.”

Lest this statement of fact be lost on those who will not acknowledge reality, let them reflect upon John Knox preaching to his congregation on the consequences of sin. Sinners cast down to Hell look up at the Lord and say: “But, Lord, we didnae ken!” He, looking down on them, says, “Weel, ye ken noo!”

Andrew HN Gray

Craiglea Drive

Edinburgh