Sovereignty at risk

Since the announcement of the question to be put in a referendum on the European Union constitution, I am surprised there has not been an intensive public debate, and that should be cause for grave concern to all of us. In Scotland’s case, we have not faced such a serious threat to our national sovereignty since 23 June, 1314. Then, as now, our very liberty and freedom as a people, as a nation, are at stake.

No political philosophy of the Left or the Right is worth the loss of any of our eternal verities. If we lose this battle there never will be an independent Scotland, thus bedevilling the SNP slogan of "independence in Europe" as a dangerous nonsense.

Fortunately, it doesn’t look likely that the constitution will get through in its present form, but if it did it could create difficulties for Scotland because of the obstacles it puts in the way of seceding from the Union.

I know Scotland is not de jure a member of the EU, and would have to apply for admission, but it would be in the EU’s interest to declare that Scotland is de facto already a member as part of the unitary state of the United Kingdom.

The trouble I have with the EU proposition arises out of the fact that the SNP is completely in pawn to Brussels. Like the troublemaker of the awkward squad who is made a lance-corporal to keep him out of mischief, the Nationalists have been pulled into the Brussels establishment and neutralised.

The answer to the referendum question - "Should the United Kingdom approve the Treaty establishing a Constitution for the European Union?" - has to be a resounding "No".

JOHN JG McGILL

Wallace View

Riccarton, Ayrshire