AFTER Covid-19 we are told the new normal will be different from the old but I do wonder when reading letters like those of your correspondents David Bone and Peter A Russell (June 10) whether for them and their like nothing has changed. They believe Scotland has always been and will continue to be an economically hopeless case thirled to Westminster handouts for ever – Scotland’s taxpayers and natural resources appear to have contributed nothing in the past and will continue to contribute nothing in the future. These economic unionists seem to be all about money with little regard or standing for Scotland’s past or future sovereignty.

When it comes to statistics, pandemic figures are bandied about and contradicted and no one knows who or what to believe any more, and so it is with the various economic statistical bodies like the ONS, OBR, BoE and many others whose figures are in continual challenge and contention with each other – with one exception. When it comes to Scotland’s economic prospects under independence, any pronouncements by said bodies are seized upon and regarded by unionists as perfectly correct and sacrosanct. Indeed, it could be regarded as a unionist statistical utopia with each prediction of economic doom and gloom being promoted separately without fear of contradiction in the anti-independence media.

The Union dividend mentioned by Mr Bone is an interesting one, as I do not see a Scotland blessed with much of a modern infrastructure outside the central belt in comparison to other countries of a similar size, which can be observed when visiting them. The Union dividend does not exist, the UK itself is in serious debt and we have no say in the repayment terms or the interest rate of all this borrowing which we will have to pay for – it’s like taking out a never-ending mortgage not knowing the terms.

Mr Russell is trying to impress by saying two million people chose to remain in the UK at the 2014 referendum, the actual figure was 2,001,926. Those voting for independence numbered 1,617,989. What this really means is, had 191,969 voted Yes instead of No, the referendum for independence would have been won by one vote, which I accept would not be a satisfactory situation but it does go to show how close the result was. Things have now moved on and much better to try for ourselves, and build in every sense of the word, a new Scotland.

Alan M Morris, Blanefield.

THE relationship with Europe desired by the majority of Scots was underlined in 2016. A further area of agreement in support of that affinity has emerged in recent days.

The commitments of Westminster to Scotland resulting from September 2014 is well known, as is the failure of successive UK administrations to act on them. Talks between Westminster and Brussels have revealed, according to Michel Barnier, that Westminster has reneged on agreements made in earlier talks designed to further the prospect of essential trade deals by the end of 2020.

Scotland has therefore one more area of affinity to Europe: that Westminster simply is not to be trusted.

John Hamilton, Bearsden.