Letters: Two questions

You call for “one straight question on independence” (editorial, 18 May). That will be fine if, but only if, there is a commitment enshrined in the Referendum Act to ask “the other question” (about more devolution) within a few months if the majority vote No to independence.

A vague promise of some possible future discussions about more powers will not do. The problem for all the political parties is that “status quo”, “more devolution” and “independence” all already have significant support among electors.

It will simply not be possible to obtain a decisive result on the preferred future constitutional position for Scotland unless that reality is recognised. That means there has to be a commitment to two questions even if the answer to the first question means the second question is never asked.

James Gilmour

East Parkside

Edinburgh

I WAS rather baffled by Rev Black’s letter (19 May) which seemed to infer that a referendum question which included the phrase, “Should Scotland leave the United Kingdom?”, was ineligible as once Scotland had left the UK the UK would cease to exist.

I presume that Rev Black is aware that Scotland cannot become independent until it has left the United Kingdom.

The question, “Should Scotland leave the United Kingdom and become an independent state?”, is valid and sets out (a) leaving the UK and (b) becoming independent in the correct order.

Iain Davenport

Mauricewood Park

Penicuik