I’M glad to see that Gordon Brown believes our new Citizen’s Assemblies will fail (Brown claims that Scotland’s new Citizens’ Assemblies will fail as they ‘lack ambition’, June 17).

Going on his past record, and the general outpouring of lies that comes from his gob, we can be almost 100% certain they will be a roaring success. Thanks for that reassurance, Gordon!

As for Jeremy Hunt, he’s even worse (FM dismisses Hunt’s three conditions for new indyref, June 17) First: the voting system for the Scottish Government was set up by Westminster to ensure that there is never any party who can hold an outright majority. Only one party has upset the system and actually achieved it – and that was the SNP. Although they do not presently hold a majority, there is a majority of MSPs from independence-supporting parties. That would be enough in anyone else’s book to validate a call for a new indyref.

I have advocated in the past for an immediate, (or as soon as possible) move to an independent currency, but take umbrage at Jeremy Hunt’s insistence on clarification of our future fiscal policy before we are granted permission for a referendum. He has no right whatsoever to insist that any country clarify it currency situation prior to achieving independence. Once independent, that country can do as it pleases as regards whatever currency it chooses – providing it is a legal choice.

However, this intervention indicates to me that we are right back to where we were in 2014 over currency. It will be one of the issues to be dwelt upon by the “Project Fear” movement. I would therefore urge Nicola Sturgeon to side-step this by adopting an independent currency from day one of independence. That would not be the day after the referendum is won. There will be 18 months to two years of negotiations etc before we actually become independent.

During that period we will still be part of the UK and will use sterling. But as soon as that period is over, we would have to “buy” Scottish currency from the Scottish Government to replace the sterling we hold.

That would give the Scottish Government, or should it by then be the Scottish Treasury, a reserve of several million pounds sterling. The Balkan countries were able to make this transition fairly quickly – as were the eastern European Adriatic countries following the break-up of Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Now, if they can do it, why can’t Scotland?

Almost finally, it has been stated publicly by Westminster Parliamentarians that Scotland should have the right to put a referendum before the people if the Scottish Parliament votes for it. That has already happened! That should be all that’s needed.

And finally, this is the only treaty there has ever been throughout history where, when two nations agree to come together as one, one of them can’t decide it has had enough and opt to leave unless it has the other’s permission. No other treaty has ever been subject to such a condition. Then again, away back in 1707, England stated “We have catched Scotland and we will not let her go!” We have to prove them wrong in this respect!

The Tory objection to Scottish independence is wrapped up in Hunt’s statement that “Scotland is too important for the UK economy.” That’s the truth. They need our oil to pay their national debt. But they’re even mucking that up by allowing BP to send the oil it draws from Scottish waters straight to Holland, where they refine it and get all the benefits without even tax on the oil coming to Scotland or, indeed, rUK.

We need to get out from under this hapless lot and take back our own national assets for our own benefit.

Charlie Kerr
Glenrothes