Letter: Nationalists must tackle currency issue

But, for example, I seem to recall that independence envisaged a Scottish currency rather than sterling.

Then came the idealism of the euro, and whereas interest rates set by the Bank of England in London were considered inappropriate for Scotland, the European Central Bank in Frankfurt seemed more palatable.

More recently sterling seems to have become more attractive, but in a recent TV interview Nicola Sturgeon deflected her inability to address the issue by reverting to a "best interests of Scotland" style of answer, thus hardly consistent with Mr Hill's claim.

By the same token, it seems strange that the SNP would like to leave our domestic union but then cede sovereignty to a substantially bigger one in the form of the European Union, where Scotland's influence will surely be less than in the UK context.

Of course, Mr Hill will argue that an independent Scotland would choose to cede sovereignty to the EU, as compared with the current relationship between ourselves and the UK.

However, the weakness ofsuch a stance is that the people of Scotland haven't demonstrated any desire to leave the UK, which is why Alex Salmond does not want an independence referendum at this time.

This will no doubt be formally tested in due course, but in the meantime those who portray Scotland as some kind of Western Tibet fundamentally misrepresent the settled will of the Scottish people.

Stuart Winton

Hilltown

Dundee

As a Scot and British citizen working in the European Union, I have enjoyed those rights bestowed on any EU citizen working in an EU member state of his or her choice, thanks to the open labour market.

There are, of course, thousands of Scots who are in my position, living and working in Europe and who hold British passports.

In light of the SNP's recent victory at the Scottish elections, I would like to know how independence would affect the above-mentioned rights as, in my view, it is by no means clear. You pointed out (13 May) that an independent Scotland would have to re-apply for EU membership.

Is it really clear that other EU states would welcome Scotland "into the fold"?

Would Spain, for example, block Scotland's application, given the fact that Catalonia could follow Scotland's example?

If Scotland's membership is blocked will Scots no longer be entitled to work without obstacles within the EU? This is assuming that Scots residing in the EU can/must take out Scottish citizenship if this would be at all possible from the Continent.

On the basis of these unanswered questions, my only conclusion is that Scots in Europe would have to keep British citizenship until an independent Scotland becomes a full member of the EU - if that ever happens and is agreed to by other EU states, which could take years.

My intention in this letter is not to scaremonger but I feel the questions listed need answering. Scots working in Europe would, presumably, not have a say in the referendum but we would be directly affected. I am, myself, not really an advocate of Scottish independence.

When asked, I call myself both Scottish and British but I realise the latter may be doomed when Scots back home decide on the issue.

However, I urge the SNP to give Scots like myself some concrete answers to these questions so that we can tell our EU employers they have nothing to fear.

Simon Campbell

Schondellestrasse

Dortmund, GermanyWith his predictable cunning strategy Alex Salmond is to gain some political point-scoring with the Scottish people by asking Westminster for things he knows he will never get and then turning this refusal into sympathy votes for his independence dream (your report, 19 May).

It would not surprise me to see Alex Salmond in a photocall donning a pair of "Westminster handcuffs" and claiming that the only key was that of independence for Scotland, which would be somewhat transparent but could persuade some voters into the independence camp.

Dennis Grattan

Mugiemoss Road

Bucksburn, Aberdeen

I would take issue with John McTernan (Perspective, 18 May) when he suggests that Alex Salmond is being weak or sentimental when he reminds us that the Queen of England is Queen of Scots, north of the Border. A minor detail? I think not.

Whatever one's politics, one has to admire our First Minister for his grasp of the social, cultural, economic and historical details when arguing his vision of the future Scotland. Perhaps this is why, in my memory of their jousts, the score stands Salmond 3 - Paxman 0.

John Chalmers

Main Street

Crossford, Fife

I do hope David Cameron was listening to the Queen and Irish president's speeches at the dinner he attended at Dublin Castle.

Both spoke of the normalisation of relations between the Republic of Ireland and Britain (sic) and the many ties between the two countries such as trade, culture, language and families. The Good Friday Agreement, which has a key element that a simple majority would allow Northern Ireland to cede from the UK, was also praised.

Compare this with Mr Cameron's commitment to frustrate any democratic process to any form of Scottish independence as he "will campaign to keep our United Kingdom together, with every single fibre that I have".

It would appear that there are double standards being applied by the unionists.

Michael N Crosby

Muiravonside

By Linlithgow