I NOTE that a second poll suggests a majority for Yes in a referendum re-run (“Second poll in a week shows surge in support for Yes vote”, The Herald, September 10). Another campaign would soon expose many of the same key issues.
Promoting his new book, Jim Sillars calls for an early second referendum (“SNP must launch a fresh Yes campaign, says Sillars”, The Herald, September 7), urging the currency issue is resolved in favour of his preference for a Scottish pound. This he says was the real plan B.
During the referendum Alex Salmond focused on plan A, not wanting to be drawn on plans B, C, and so on. The problem with Plan A was the rest of the UK did not want to shoulder an independent Scotland’s risk, while many in Scotland realised it would mean a loss of fiscal autonomy.
A Scottish pound floating at the whim of international currency markets would sadly deliver an economic future with all the stability of a game of roulette. Our First Minister is probably irritated by loose talk of plans A and B, through fear it leads people to conclude that a third option would be inevitable, namely joining the euro.
Currency is a conundrum for the SNP. Despite the problems in Greece and elsewhere, some consider the euro offers the credibility that an independent Scotland would need, yet to get it requires signing up to an ever closer political and financial union with all of Europe. Even the most UK-sceptic of Scots would hesitate before replacing London with a greater dependence on Brussels.
Keith Howell,
White Moss, West Linton, Peeblesshire.
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