Referendum bill

The referendum bill, which John Curtice says has the "potential to embarrass the opposition" (Analysis, 26 February), is already turning the cheeks of nationalists purple. Despite being initially critical of the dual question approach to the introduction of devolution, Alex Salmond chooses the same mechanism to deliver his latest constitutional conundrum.

There is a world of a difference between independence and just adding another area of legislative responsibility to the Scottish Parliament.

A big question deserves a straightforward choice after serious debate.

CALUM MILLER

Polwarth Terrace

Prestonpans

The SNP must stop to consider what the Scottish priorities are before wasting more time and money in the matter of the draft bill for a vote on independence which has at this point in time no chance of progressing through Holyrood (your report, 26 February)

Alex Salmond is doing more damage to the hope of independence of Scotland by personalising the issue as some sort of modern William Wallace hero but the electorate does not have the stomach for such irrelevant rhetoric when faced with the reality of economic gloom house repossessions and many more Scottish workers losing their jobs.

DENNIS GRATTAN

Mugiemoss Road

Aberdeen