Day to forget

Is not the SNP being more than a little previous in announcing a date for “Scottish independence day” (your report, 6 February)? Don’t we have the right first to decide if we approve whatever deal has been negotiated?

I understood the forthcoming referendum to be merely and only seeking our permission to proceed with negotiations, not to grant them carte blanche ­approval in advance.

Tim Flinn

Garvald

East Lothian

Independence day is an event but independence is a process. Overnight the nuclear weapons can be disarmed and the present schedule of road convoys can then take them down to Burghfield and Aldermaston.

Some negotiations about the currency, armed forces, welfare and pensions and the BBC, among others, will have 
different schedules before 
implementation. So what?

For the “No” leaders to make a big noise of negatives and fear over these issues shows how difficult it is to defend a failing state. The real issue before the people of Scotland is the opportunity to make their own mature decisions for a different, happier and fairer society that only a Yes vote can make possible.

Ray Newton

Buckstone Way

Edinburgh

One wonders what colour the sky is on the planet Alex Salmond inhabits. He claims that, following a Yes vote in, say, 
October 2014, an independent Scotland will be in place by March 2016. This is just less than a year and a half. It can take up to twice that and longer just for a supermarket to obtain planning permission in an environment in which the framework and regulations already exist.

Donald Lewis

Gifford

East Lothian

So, if we decide Scotland should be independent, we will achieve that status in March 2016. Big mistake, Mr Salmond. Who wants an annual independence day public holiday in one of the dreichest months of the year? A summer holiday would be far better. Picking a date purely at random, how about 4 July?

Eric Begbie

Tillicoultry

Clackmannanshire