Let's all give thanks most of us discounted the economic case for independence

SUPPORTERS of independence were always poised during the referendum to dismiss those who pointed to the risks as 'scaremongers'. Now that their very real fears in terms of the Scottish economy have been proven well-founded in the form of a Â£15 billion deficit (your report, 10 March) the 'scaremongers' will no doubt be accused of being 'gleeful'.

I can say with perfect sincerity that I derive no pleasure from the fact that 65,000 jobs have been lost in the UK as a result of the plummet in the price of oil. And I certainly do not regret paying heed in 2014 to the warnings of those such as Sir Ian Wood.

Risk assessment is standard practice for those in responsibility in every walk of life; indeed, not to undertake it would be a dereliction of duty.

I do, therefore, feel mightily relieved that two million Scots performed due diligence, as it were, and were not duped into dismissing their fears by puerile name calling.

I must also express a debt of gratitude to John Swinney for his successful battle to “protect” the Barnett formula and the existing funding mechanisms which will help to alleviate the effects of the black hole in the Scottish economy.

Colin Hamilton

Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh

So it’s true then. The 300-year Union has destroyed the Scottish economy and left Scotland as an economic disaster. Is that what the “proud Scots” are exulting about on the basis of a low oil price (your report 10 March)?

The oil from which Scotland to date has had not one penny revenue as that all has gone to the UK Treasury.

The GERS figures just released are those of a Scottish economy trapped in a UK economy which has an almost unserviceable debt of more than £1.6 trillion. Hasn’t anyone noticed?

And we’re the ones that are supposed to be too stupid to manage our own finances?

We’re just expected to settle for more of the same, apparently.

These figures are irrelevant anyway to what we would do if we were in charge.

They are produced to attack Scotland’s ability to go it alone.

But we don’t want to be independent to continue running Scotland down, as is happening now. We want to be independent to do things very differently and run our own country properly.

But then again, if we are such a burden on the UK finances surely they will let us go?

Dave McEwan Hill

Sandbank, Argyll