OWEN Kelly's letter (April 20) is typical of the magical thinking of many nationalists: their belief is that Scotland would by the fact of independence automatically perform as well as the best-performing small countries. However, there is of course no evidence that this will be the case.

To do so, it would require a number of critical decisions by the Scottish Government, which it has so far not shown its capacity to make. To quote just the three most obvious failures, Nicola Sturgeon, Kate Forbes and Jeane Freeman have stood by a shamed and disgraced senior advisor; made a complete mess of financial assistance to small businesses; and worst of all have presided over a shambles in relation to testing and PPE in care homes which may have cost many, many lives.

At the time of the 2014 referendum, you wisely chose to reject independence on the Gramscian grounds that the SNP proposition was rich in emotional optimism but poor in intellectual pessimism. The lesson to be learned from the current crisis is similar – at all levels, policy must be based on a critical appraisal of the risks, rather than just hoping for the best. The lucky white heather doesn't usually work.

Peter A Russell, Glasgow G13

TOM Gordon ("What is left of the prospectus for independence after Covid?", The Herald, April 18) is probably correct to suggest that Unionists will claim that the four nations of the UK pulled together during the coronavirus crisis, and got things done. Independence supporters can also claim that the four nations of the UK pulled together and got things done. This is a global pandemic affecting all nations and the only right and responsible way to beat it is for all nations to pull together and get things done; but co-operation is one thing, control is quite another.

Nicola Sturgeon has made it clear from the outset that her full efforts are focused on bringing Scotland through this dreadful time, and she has earned praise from all shades of political opinion in Scotland and beyond for her clear and consistent leadership. As for Mr Gordon's concluding sentence, "God knows she needs something to go right for her cause just now", I would point out that shortly before this pandemic hit the world, Ms Sturgeon's party overwhelmingly won the majority of Scottish seats at last December's General Election, and if opinion polls are correct is on course to win a fourth consecutive term at the Scottish Parliament Elections next May. However, the only cause all of us should be concentrating on just now is defeating this terrible illness. Other causes and questions must wait for another day; but assuredly, that day will come.

Ruth Marr, Stirling.

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