Corporate levers

All this talk of who controls the economic levers on independence (Colin Hamilton, Letters, 23 May and Dennis Canavan, your report, 22 May) misses the point entirely and demonstrates the ultimate futility of the referendum debate.

These economic levers are controlled almost entirely by the global business community and Dennis Canavan cannot wish that fact away.

In fact, the corporate hold on these levers is set to increase in the coming years as our politicians continue to hand away our sovereignty to big business.

However, even more alarming is the threat that national social policies in place to protect the legitimate interests of the citizens and their environment could be swept away by the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the purpose of which is to remove the regulatory differences between the US and European 
nations. The negotiations on the TTIP have been called “a full-frontal assault on democracy” and our “representatives”, including Alex Salmond, remain silent. But then these global powers must be really pleased with the attention diverting impact in Scotland of the activities of the separatists.

John Milne

Ardgowan Drive

Uddingston