Poll question is a ‘semantic bombshell’

The question devised by the SNP government for the referendum, “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”, is a loaded semantic bombshell deliberately designed to provoke a psychological and emotional response, which, from the point of view of the SNP, is a Yes (your report, 8 May).

Attempts by the SNP to colour this in any other fashion are disingenuous at best and devious at worst. Why not ask: “Do you want Scotland to break away from the rest of the United Kingdom?” It means exactly the same thing so why not ask that? The only possible response is because it is less likely to produce the results wanted by the SNP and its supporters.

If that is the case then it becomes clear that this is not an even playing field.

Brian Allan

Keith Street

Alloa, Clacks

Whether the proposed referendum question is biased or not, it is not the right question because it asks people to agree with someone else’s opinion rather than state their own.

If Mr Salmond wants to find out what people think, the question is no more complicated than “Should Scotland be an independent country?” Answer: Yes or No.

Clare Wade

Mindspace Market Research

Lindores, Fife

I was intrigued to note the Scottish Affairs Select Committee of MPs comment that the independence referendum question is “unfair” and “biased”. The question, “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?”, is seen as a leading one.

However, it is intriguing to note that the coming into force of the Localism Act in England gives English local authorities the right to hold a referendum on so-called “governance” arrangements, such as elected mayors, selected planning issues and council tax increases. The bill sets out exactly the same form of wording for referendums as the Scottish Government is proposing by putting the question – “Do you agree” with a proposition.

If Westminster is quite happy to let a council use this form of wording it can scarcely call a similar format of question put by the Scottish Government “unfair” and “biased”.

Alex Orr

Leamington Terrace

Edinburgh