We need a serious independence debate

It has been clear for some time that First Minister Alex Salmond and his SNP government are to be criticised, in a juvenile manner, on a daily basis.

Amazingly, some Unionists are now calling for the independence referendum to be brought forward, something they resisted tenaciously between 2007 and 2011. Is it possible they foresee the benefits of independence and want out of the Union as soon as possible? Unfortunately for them, Mr Salmond will keep his word and call a referendum in the second half of the current parliament.

Who knows, maybe David Cameron will follow his example and call the promised referendum on the EU soon. In the current difficult economic situation, with a reduced income and no borrowing powers, Mr Salmond and his government are doing their best for people in Scotland – unemployment is lower than the UK level, employment is higher and inward investment is better.

Certainly no one wants to see people unemployed, especially youngsters, but this problem is UK-wide and despite its massive borrowing, and borrowing powers, the UK government has failed to solve the problem.

Constructive opposition, with an eye to reality, would do much for the credibility of the First Minister’s opponents. Sadly, little is forthcoming. MP Margaret Curran, and the deplorable Labour Party, are to blame for many of our difficulties, yet wade in to criticise the Scottish Government.

Since she appears to have no solutions to youth unemployment, and is another Labour “denier” of any responsibility for the problems, I am left with the conclusion that these critics are consumed with guilt and embarrassment that someone is doing something for Scotland that they couldn’t and didn’t, and would rather we were in a worse position than the rest of the UK, for their political gain!

Bill McLean

Rosemill Court

Dunfermline, Fife

I HAVE just returned from visiting Slovenia, Croatia and Montenegro – all countries which have very recently gained their independence. They are all “small” and without huge resources, but they are happy with their situation.

None wishes to give up its sovereignty, nor has “lost status in Europe” (Alexander McKay’s letter, 18 October). I would think the reverse has happened, with seats in the United Nations and, in Slovenia’s case, membership of the EU. And since most of the world refers to the UK as “England”, Scotland could scarcely have a lower profile internationally.

I cannot think that Scotland would be treated more shabbily than these countries if (when) it gets independence. We already contribute through our taxes to “welfare, jobs, pensions, military”, but do not get our share of income (such as the fossil fuel levy) to offset this.

And why should there be customs posts at the English Border? Vindictiveness on the part of the English? In my experience, our friends south of the Border are not like this. It is merely the reaction of Scottish Unionists.

In fact, their increasingly desperate views are beginning to sound like those of a lost cause.

Alison Halley

Newbattle Abbey Crescent

Dalkeith

I believe Scotland needs normal full independence, as a sovereign nation within the British Commonwealth of Nations, with the present Queen or her successor as head of state, sovereignty residing in the people, exercised through a democratically-elected parliament.

None of the states of the UK could stand idly by if one of them was invaded by a hostile power, so we would have a defensive alliance, but we would need the power to refuse to be drawn into an illegal invasion of a third country.

Most people are now agreed that the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq were costly errors, morally, politically and economically. I do not believe that an independent Scottish Government, whatever its party, would have joined in these ill-conceived adventures.

We therefore need to control defence and foreign policy, and choose what alliances we enter into, avoiding giving guarantees we are not able or willing to keep. For example, Nato’s original purpose is not front-of-stage at present, and no-one, least of all its commanders, knows what its mission is.

When that has been ettled it will be time to decide whether or not Scotland should join.

Not so long ago the US extreme right had very nearly got Georgia into Nato in their desire to encircle Russia, and as it turned out had they succeeded we would have been involved in an unwinnable war with Russia.

Any deal that leaves us exposed to that kind of madness is not an acceptable ending for the independence movement.

John Smart

Kinneddar Street

Lossiemouth, Moray