I THINK we know by now from her many letters to The National that Lovina Roe (Letters, February 28) is no fan of the EU or the people who run it.

It could help the debate if she would now turn to telling us how she sees an independent Scotland – which she wants – faring outside the EU.

Obviously she would have no truck with Scotland having a Norway-style relationship with the single market as this would entail accepting EU directives, paying for the pleasure but having no say in creating these directives.

Perhaps being in a customs union of sorts? Would the plan be to go for the same customs agreement that England might negotiate? If outside a customs union with the EU, would an independent Scotland have the wherewithal to make hundreds of trade agreements around the world, or would perhaps an arrangement be made with England for joint negotiations?

It is generally agreed that Scotland needs and would welcome EU citizens for our fruit farming, fish processing, health service etc. To encourage EU citizens to come and work here would entail separate negotiations with the EU and likely acceptance of the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. Would this be acceptable to Ms Roe, or would that still be subjecting ourselves to the unpalatable elite of the EU?

I am sure there are many other questions that would need to be answered, and maybe there are opportunities which I just don’t see.

I look forward to Ms Roe’s next letter.

Tom Crozier
Ayr

IN response to Lovina Roe’s well-thought-out response to my original letter regarding those who voted Leave the EU voting to remain in the British state.

I accept that 38 per cent of Scots voted leave and some would have voted for independence. What I can’t understand is that after 300 years of being held back and all the underhanded politics by the British Labour/Conservative alliance that has damaged Scotland and its people, some who in 2014 voted for independence would consider voting to stay in a system where the Scottish voice has never been heard and never will be.

Being one of the vast majority who are not expert on the EU, I would still trust my friends in the EU before my so-called friends in the Labour/Conservative alliance who history has told us can’t be trusted with Scotland’s future.

Bryan Auchterlonie
Perthshire

ANSWERING Lovina Roe’s point regarding the debate about being governed from Brussels as opposed to Westminster. There is a fairly simple explanation. At Brussels we would be able to play a full part in the overall governance of the EU, unlike with Westminster where our parliament is continually ignored, disparaged and generally disadvantaged to suit the agenda of the London-based grandees through the ineffectual governor general/viceroy or, as some would have it, Secretary of State for Scotland.

Westminster dictates to us, either by ignoring us or by the constraints based through the allocation of our block grant. Yes, there are lots of things wrong with Europe, but even more under Westminster management.

Nick Cole
Meigle, Perthshire

THE original aim of the Scottish National Party was independence for Scotland. During the burgeoning days of leaders Billy Wolffe and Gordon Wilson a very great deal was made of Scotland’s enormous resources and how it could be one of the richest nations in the world if only we had the autonomous power to control it for our people. That was what many of us strived hard for. This still holds today.

Isn’t it a contradiction then to also be governed from Brussels? Isn’t that a diminution of full independence? A great many rules and regulations that will come from the EU cannot be challenged no mater how much we feel them to be wrong.

Being in the EU might make economic sense (or it that too a contradiction, since we are already rich?) but I don’t think it makes political sense. Edinburgh must make ALL the decisions.

Robert Gritton
Aberdeenshire

SUCH an inspirational approach from Robin McAlpine’s new book (How To Start a New Country..., The National, February 28) – the words took my breath away.

“Scotland is not in an inherently weak position, should not behave as if it is, and should be clear that it does not view itself as a supplicant.”

This is surely the way forward to convince the doubters and glass-half-empty people about independence – demonstrate by sheer hard work, intelligence and full-on preparation that it can and will happen.

This new book is compulsory reading for all interested in achieving independence.

Alex Thomson
Coldstream

AS always, severe weather sees the motorways blocked by stationary vehicles, many of them heavy articulated lorries. I suspect the vast majority of the latter could have waited until the weather improved but, although they’re well aware of the risks, the drivers choose not to. Lorry drivers are in the vanguard of the gig economy, not paid unless they work, so they take a chance. How can that be in anybody’s interests?

Is it entirely beyond the wit of man to find a better way of running the freight industry?

Derek Ball
Bearsden