BY his frank explanation of his voting intentions (“EU would determine Sillars' stance on independence”, The Herald, March 8) Jim Sillars confirms what I have long argued: that any so-called independence referendum would be no such thing. As he acknowledges, there can be no independence in a referendum result that leads essentially to swapping ultimate dependence on Westminster for even greater dependence on Brussels. What would be at stake would be Scotland's continuing membership of the UK, by far its greatest market. The question to be asked in any second referendum must make that clear, rather than offering independence which it cannot deliver.

Alan Fitzpatrick,

10 Solomon's View, Dunlop.

AT last, someone has highlighted the contradiction within the SNP over what independence really means.

I had thought that since the EU referendum, Jim Sillars had been gagged by the nationalists, but I am pleased to see he is still arguing the case that any return to the EU is unlikely to deliver what a significant percentage of Yes voters want.

The SNP is beginning to realise that you can fool some of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.

David W Strachan,

6 Colinbar Circle, Barrhead.

I FOUND it rather odd that Jim Sillars said he will not vote for Scottish independence if it meant an independent Scotland would have to rejoin the EU.

Mr Sillars, who as deputy leader coined the “Independence in Europe” slogan for the SNP, was a key independence campaigner in the 2014 referendum, when a major aspect of that campaign was EU membership for an independent Scotland.

Mr Sillars must also surely be well aware of the difference between the political union that is the UK, with sovereignty held at Westminster, and the EU, comprising a union of nation states that pool and share their sovereignty. He would sadly see us remain part of the UK rather than join the likes of Denmark, Ireland, Austria and Finland in the EU. He would rather we remain part of the UK, than have full control over the levers of power currently held at Westminster, from nuclear weapons to social security.

Mr Sillars also comments that EU membership means handing over control to “unelected bureaucrats in Brussels”. As one looks at the 800 unelected members of the House of Lords, it seems surreal he would rather power continue to be held at Westminster.

It should also be noted that in the EU the Commissioners are appointed by elected national governments, the Parliament is directly elected, and the Council of Ministers is represented by elected ministers from national governments.

It is so sad that someone who has been such a strong advocate of Scottish independence over many years has decided to turn his back on this.

Alex Orr,

Flat 2, 77 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh.

PETER Russell (Letters, March 8) contends that when Scotland voted against independence this "included accepting the possibility that the UK might leave the EU", but I would remind Mr Russell that in 2014 the Scottish electorate were assured repeatedly by the Better Together campaign, and particularly by the Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, that the only way to secure Scotland's place within the EU was by voting No.

And as for the Conservatives’ 2015 manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the EU, that manifesto was roundly rejected by voters in Scotland, who one year later endorsed the SNP's 2016 manifesto which recognised the right of the Scottish Parliament to hold another referendum on independence if there was "a significant and material change of circumstance, such as Scotland being taken out of the EU against our will". Not only was the SNP re-elected on the strength of that manifesto for a historic third term, but it won more seats in the Scottish Parliament than the three Unionist parties put together.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road, Stirling.