Under who’s law?

Some contributors to the debate over the proposed referendum seem to ignore the results of the 1997 Scottish referendum, organised by the UK parliament, which overwhelmingly supported the principles of devolution, including the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and the reservation of constitutional issues to the UK parliament.

Dr Qvortrup (news analysis, 11 January) is an acknowledged expert on referendums but he is mistaken to suppose that any referendum organised by the Scottish Parliament or Scottish Government on constitutional issues would have legal validity when it would clearly be acting beyond the legal powers granted to it by the Scottish electorate in the 1997 referendum and the subsequent 1998 Scotland Act.

Norman Bonney

West End

Edinburgh

Mr Salmond is creating a terrible mess.

On 24 October, 2014, a majority of voters, but not of the electorate, will vote for independence. Within a few months, after general elections, we will have Labour governments in London and Edinburgh. Quid juris?

A Haughney

Lady Road

Edinburgh