Fiscal difficulties

Brian Wilson (Perspective,  21 March) may be correct in saying that the Yes independence referendum campaign was the biggest attempted deception in recent political history. The full implication of Nicola Sturgeon’s words last week, that they were wrong on oil price projections, has yet to sink in.

The implication being that the Yes campaign was based on a false premise (I am not saying deliberately), and was a “house built on sand” (as many said at the time). Thankfully, sanity prevailed.

However, the same problem is still with us, in the SNP policy of fiscal autonomy, and the implications for Scotland would be the same, ie, very bad!

Hopefully the polls will shift soon, in what will be a fascinating election.

William Ballantine

Dean Road

Bo’ness

Would it not be prudent of Labour to promise the offer of full fiscal autonomy to Scotland, the acceptance/refusal of such to be decided at a referendum to be held on 18 September, with a view to full implementation by March 2016 ?

Dr A McCormick

Kirkland Road

Terregles

Nr Dumfries

I was concerned to read this week that not just the SNP but also Ukip now support full fiscal autonomy for Scotland. I think the case for keeping the Barnett Formula has now never been more clear!

Michelle Smythe

Dalry Road

Edinburgh

I wonder if there are any Nationalists out there that are prepared to admit that the recent Office for Budget Responsibility figures are deeply concerning?

They show that instead of the £7 billion that the SNP’s White Paper said we would raise in the first year of independence in 2016 that we would instead have raised £700 million – which would have been a disastrous shortfall.

For once I would like to hear acceptance that those of us  who thought Scottish independence could lead to massive  tax rises and cuts to public services were not in fact scaremongering but have legitimate concerns.

Thomas McCafferty

Drumbrae South

Edinburgh