Letter: Scottish finances

There has been considerable correspondence recently anent the finances of an independent Scotland. For me as a Scotsman independence is a matter of personal honour and self respect. I find having my country governed by another shameful.

Let there be no doubt that this country is governed by another -our representation in the London parliament is very small.

Did the Latvians blether about money when seceding from Russia? Did the Ukrainians bleat about money when seceding from Russia? Did the Norwegians babble about money when seceding from Sweden? The people who witter on about money are, unfortunately, the Scots.

As the question of money seems to loom so large in the minds of the Albanach, let me say that in my opinion Scotland might be a bit better off, or possibly a little worse off with independence. So what?

R Mill Irving

Station Road

Gifford, East Lothian

The inclination of those on the nationalist side of politics in Scotland to dwell in some kind of fantasy, never-never land is most pronounced.

The latest example of this tendency - the once again asserted claim by David Purves (Letters, 7 January), that ''we in Scotland have never been given the opportunity to vote for membership of the EU'', is simply untrue.

On 6 June, 1975, the people of Scotland, then and now an integral part of the UK, took part in a referendum about just that. A majority of more than 60 per cent of a high turnout was in favour, and when the figures were broken down, Scotland, as always, was within a couple of percentage points of the UK total.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh