Indefensible view

He must have missed the news that the Scottish Government is currently discussing its position regarding Nato in an independent Scotland and that complaints about projected re-organisation of the British Army are from all quarters, not just the SNP.

Mr McKay may like to explain how “centuries-old allies” would distance themselves from Scotland, when many of these same allies are taking great interest in Scotland’s progress to independence.

I suspect that, on independence, there will still be Scottish soldiers serving with the British Army – just as there are Fijians, Irish and other nationals serving at present.

I hope Mr McKay will not consider this to be “effrontery”, but I suspect he has a wee sense of humour and is hiding his acquisition of Corporal Fraser syndrome – “We’re doomed, ah tell ye – we’re a’ doomed” – with his latest outburst.

Bill McLean

Newmills

Dunfermline, Fife

It is with deep sorrow that one reads the anti-independence rants of Alexander McKay. In his latest diatribe he sees independence as bringing “isolation from our centuries-old Western allies”.

I am not sure who these “centuries-old” Western allies are, but putting these rather embarrassing comments by Mr McKay aside, what independence does is allow Scotland to join the world community to preserve peace and security, never again dragging our nation into an illegal war.

Scotland will maintain active defence commitments with its friends and allies through the United Nations, European Union and Partnership for Peace, and no nuclear weapons will be based on independent Scottish soil. It will be in the same boat as other nations such as Ireland, Finland and Sweden.

Scotland will not be isolating itself on independence; it will be playing, like other small nations, its full part in delivering global peace and security.

Alex Orr

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh