Sir, I think it is worth mentioning that on my way home recently by air from a business trip, a Scottish family sitting across the aisle in the aircraft were attempting to pay the cabin crew for drinks and snacks with Clydesdale Bank notes, which were refused.
I came to the rescue by exchanging them for Bank of England notes that were readily accepted.
The reason for this (which seems to escape the SNP and its supporters) is that the Bank of England is the lender of last resort fully backed by the UK Government, whereas the Scottish commercial banks are not.
This is why Scottish notes are not readily accepted outside of Scotland.
It basically means then, that the SNP position, were Scotland to vote for independence, would be the continuation of the use of Bank of England currency by Scottish citizens who would be politically, foreigners, in order to benefit from the currency guarantee of the rUK government and the Bank of England. How crazy would that be ?
Some of your readers may say: “Ah yes, but we can purchase euros or dollars in Scotland using our Scottish pounds. The question then, however, is at what exchange rate?
It is hardly conceivable that the uncertain future of independence will not have a very negative effect on currency exchange rates if Scotland keeps the pound in a localised form. Therefore, Scots will be paying a hefty premium to buy foreign currency for business and travel purposes.
This very basic demonstration of currency reality illustrates the paucity of SNP policies in so many areas of its independence campaign.
Derek Farmer. Knightsward Farm, Anstruther.
Not asking the full question
Sir It’s not just independence we’re being offered in September’s referendum. We’re told in the SNP’s manifesto that a majority vote for “yes” will mean that the Scottish Government will take us into the European Union. We’d be swapping shared policy with partners who are 12 times bigger than us, for a partner 100 times our size.
Since 1993, every new member state has had to adopt every one of the EU’s current policies. As a new member we would not be eligible for any of the opt-outs or rebates that the UK has won.
In 1992, the members of the EU agreed rules for currency union that apply to every new member. European monetary union rules cover how much governments can borrow each year, and includes their interest rate and economic policies. Only the UK and Denmark have opt-outs from the obligation to adopt the euro.
Scotland already meets the full conditions for joining the euro. The rules mean that Scotland would have to change over to the euro right away.
Where does all this take us? In September we’ll be asked: “Should Scotland be an independent country?” But that’s not the complete question. In fact, the SNP government is asking us whether we also want to join the huge European Union as a new member, and adopt both the euro and its economic policies.
Andrew Dundas. 34 Ross Avenue, Perth.
They have lost the argument
Sir, There have been a number of personal attacks on Alex Salmond in Holyrood, the mainstream media and in letters to newspapers, including your own. As a supporter of the “yes” vote, I hope these attacks continue.
The desperate attempts by the No campaign to try to smear Mr Salmond at every opportunity merely demonstrate that they know they have lost the real argument and have, therefore, resorted to school playground name-calling.
This entirely misses the real issue which is democratic self-determination. This referendum is not about Mr Salmond. If you disagree with his policies, you can vote for a different party in the Scottish Parliamentary elections.
If those elections were to take place in an independent Scotland, this would give all Scottish citizens a greater voice in how our country is governed. At present, Scottish MPs at Westminster can be outvoted by the far greater number of English-based MPs, a situation which has led to such iniquities as the so-called “bedroom tax” being imposed on Scotland against the wishes of the Scottish Government because it has limited powers.
Which political party you support or which party leader you like or dislike should have nothing to do with how you vote in the referendum. The September decision will impact on future generations long after Mr Salmond has gone.
Gordon Anthony. Livingston.
Must be better than that lot!
Sir, It was quite sad to see some Dundee people making a case against independence, on STV news recently, as though food banks, fuel poverty and bedroom taxes were the acceptable norm. One man said Scotland needs help. So why is it other small nations like Denmark, Switzerland and Norway don’t?
The citizens of these countries have such a fierce pride in their country that surrendering their sovereignty would be absolutely unthinkable. Shouldn’t we have that same pride?
The industrial and commercial power of Scotland making it the 14th richest nation in the world governed by economists, teachers, lawyers and QCs, makes for a far better country to live in than cowering under the dictates of the likes of Messrs Clegg, Cameron, Cable, Farage etc. Surely that lot cannot be preferable to independence?
Robert Gritton. 17 Glen Drive, Dyce, Aberdeen.