Letters: Euro move

THE economies and, thus, the societies of Spain, Ireland and Greece etc are being stressed severely as a consequence of their membership of the euro bloc.

The financial policies set for the euro were ill-suited to their economic circumstances and they are now paying the penalty.

What is the solution to the situation resulting?

Tighter fiscal and political union to align the economies of those in the bloc with those of Germany.

If we secede from the UK should we join the euro? If we do so our interest rates and taxes will be determined by those in the largest economies, not by the needs of our own.

Is it imaginable that Germany and France will heed the special pleadings of the latest, and one of the smallest, members of the bloc?

If we secede should we hold on to sterling? If we did so, why should the Bank of England risk damage to the economies of England and Wales by, for example, setting interest rates which are tempered by consideration of Scotland’s requirements?

These are serious issues which require intensive debate. George Kerevan’s ludicrous suggestion (Perspective, 14 January), that the “pound Scots” would be some sort of supercharged petro- currency does not merit inclusion in that debate.

John Bryson

Nether Craigow

Kinross

It used to be said that if you left a problem long enough it would take care of itself.

For weeks now critics of the great crawl to independence have been demanding to know whether an independent Scotland would join the euro.

They really have to frame a new question, such as “will independence arrive quickly enough for Scotland to have time to join the euro?”

With the referendum at least two years away is there anyone left in the UK willing to bet that the euro lasts that long? Anyway, I’d go for beads myself; you can buy places like New York with that.

David Fiddimore

Calton Road

Edinburgh