SEVERAL of your correspondents (Letters, March 9), invoking Jim Sillars' restated opposition to the EU (“EU would determine Sillars’ stance on independence”, The Herald, March 8), blithely talk of replacing Brussels rule with Westminster rule if an independent Scotland were to join the EU as if the situations were the same. Yet despite decades of increased integration, this is simply not true and the comparison is not like with like.
Currently Westminster has control over substantial areas, including the constitution, international affairs, defence (including nuclear weapons of course), currency, financial markets, social security, pensions and broadcasting. EU laws influence the above of course (as do many other international rules and norms), but states within the EU, the glaring exception being currency for Eurozone members, all have control over the above matters. Even on currency whilst new joiners have to commit to join the euro, the examples of Sweden and others show that there is little chance of members being forced to join, especially with the persistent Eurozone crisis of recent years.
Whatever the merits or otherwise of EU membership and of independence, let's not pretend that a putatively independent Scotland within the EU would find itself with the same powers as now. It would have more.
Michael Rossi,
66 Canalside Gardens, Southall, Middlesex.
YET again Nicola Sturgeon warns of the possibility of an independence referendum in late 2018 and therefore the Scottish economy will continue to be in limbo, with investors loath to commit (“Sturgeon says referendum in autumn 2018 ‘makes sense’”, The Herald, March 9). Bluff or not, is it not time for her to put ideology aside and deal with issues like the NHS and education which are in a dreadful state?
Success in running essential public services would go some way in restoring confidence that the SNP is fit to run an independent country but its daily scrutiny of the UK Government's actions in search of “grievances” would indicate that it has a long way to go.
Bob MacDougall,
Oxhill, Kippen, Stirlingshire.
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