YOUR correspondent A Macallister (Letters, December 13) argues “voting for independence before Brexit allows Scotland to open negotiations with the EU or the European Free Trade Association from within the EU.”

That’s factually true but not the only – or even the most important – factor in deciding a date for the next indyref. Other factors include: Are we likely to win? And on what basis are we asking the electorate to vote Yes this time round?

My concern about all those who want an early referendum “to defend our place in the EU” is that they seem to have forgotten that many independence supporters have no desire to remain within the EU, and that its is profoundly morally suspect, if not downright undemocratic, to have a referendum that asks a question about one thing – Scottish independence – while effectively being about something else ie avoiding Brexit.

An early referendum called, in effect, as a proxy vote on the EU could be one that is lost again narrowly – putting the cause of indy back a generation.

In my view, the two questions need to be disentangled.

Indyref2 – whenever it is called (and I would prefer 2021 following the winning of an unequivocal mandate for pro-indy MSPs in the Holyrood elections of that year) must be about the general, broad democratic and progressive case for independence, with the understanding that an independent Scotland can have its own referendum on its relationship with the EU, Efta or anything else once independence is achieved, and if its now sovereign people so desire.

An early referendum based around something a third of Yes voters either don’t support, or are at best lukewarm to, is to invite defeat.

And that would leave EU enthusiasts outside the EU and stuck in a Brexit UK with no hope of further democratic remedy for some time to come. I’m a Yes/Leave voter but if pro-EU Yes supporters want to sit down and think about it for five minutes, my option might be their best option too.

Steve Arnott

Inverness

I DON’T think anyone can definitely say what our confused.com Westminster Government thinks or says. Is Brexit Secretary David Davis just thick, or is he playing a long game of confusing the electorate by saying so much rubbish at which everyone just gets totally fed up and ignores him? To do so is at our peril – as Michel Fry makes brilliantly clear (A new border on These Islands now looks impossible ... so what does that mean for us?, The National, December 12) .

No other contribution from the southern press seems to want to pick this up – no surprise there then! The arrangement with Northern Ireland keeps them in the single market and customs union when it suits the DUP and the Tory government due to the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Incredible but outrageous!

The Scottish people are being constantly stonewalled and ignored by May, Davis, Mundell et al. This is the same routine that the Spanish Government has adopted with Catalonia (Life goes on ... but indy issue never goes away by Andy Raven, The National, December 12).

Where and when is this going to end? For me it will be when the Scottish people decide enough is enough. Is that so very far away?

Alex Thomson

Coldstream

IT was with great sadness that I read in The National today that Colonel “Union Jack” Davidson is considering her career options, by perhaps moving her person south of the Border (Davidson hints at plan to stand for Westminster, The National, December 13).

As my expectations rose to heights not seen since September 2014, on reading further they were again smashed asunder! The fact that UJ wishes to stand once more as a candidate in the next Scottish Parliamentary Elections in 2021 was depressing enough news, but the assertion that she intended to become the next First Minister of Scotland, before she would consider relinquishing her position of Tory Governor General of North Britain?

This caused me further angst on two fronts: the fact she actually thinks there are enough Scots who would vote Tory to fulfil her desire to become FM, and the realisation we will be stuck with “The Colonel” for the foreseeable future, if she continues to set herself unrealistic goals. It just proves the saying “Never Trust a Tory Promise”.

Sandy Allan

Newburgh, Ellon

THE speculation that Rupert Murdoch wants to sell most of his 21st Century Fox media empire to Disney because he cannot compete with giants like Apple may be conjoined with his knowledge or intuition that there is a generational shift away from fascination with fantasy.

Why should young people be enthralled when each can hold multiple roles of leading actor, supporting cast, director, and stage manager in a daily production of real life? Not least of these roles is script writer, setting the scene for a just and equal society set against the backdrop of robotisation, artificial intelligence, globalisation and the threat of extreme climate change.

Geoff Naylor

Winchester, Hampshire

RICHARD Hastings hits the nail on the head in the “website comments” column. Seems to me the only programme on BBC which truly reflects life in Scotland is Scot Squad! We’re daft, laugh at ourselves and we’re unique.

Kenneth HW Campbell

Troon