FIGURES from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicating that the UK has the lowest level of wealth per head of population of all countries in north-west Europe should come as no real surprise.

These show that the UK has a national income (GDP) level of £31,038 per head of the population in 2021 – the lowest of its 13 neighbouring countries of Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands, Iceland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Austria, France and Germany.

The average wealth of all countries, per person, is £36,100 – £5,062 higher than the UK’s rate.

READ MORE: Study exposes UK as 'poor man of north-west Europe' and sparks independence call

The gap between the UK’s GDP levels and its European neighbours has also widened over the last two decades, with the UK going from having a GDP which was 7.6% (£2,219) lower than the average of its neighbours in 2000, to 16.3% (£5,062) lower this year.

The UK is now a whopping £15,739 per person less wealthy than those independent European countries similar in size to or smaller than Scotland.

Scotland is shackled as part of a UK which is truly the economic sick man of Europe, and the only way to unleash our full economic potential and be as successful as our European neighbours is through becoming a normal independent country.

Alex Orr
Edinburgh

IN January 1973, the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community as “the sick man of Europe.” On January 31 2020, the United Kingdom left the European Union, still the sick man of Europe.

WJ Graham
East Kilbride

THE newest poll showing a slump in support for independence is a warning shot. The leadership of the SNP have become complacent and allowed the independence movement to be defined by inertia and arrogance.

The blame for this lies directly with Nicola Sturgeon and her clique of hacks and fawning brown-nosers. Groupthink has become the norm. Critical voices are smeared and isolated. Sturgeon has been given numerous mandates to hold a referendum and blown them all, embarrassingly begging the fraudulent Tory clown and fascist Boris Johnson for “permission” to hold another plebiscite.

READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: This is how the SNP can quieten the critics over indyref2

Since the election, a series of Unionist non-entities have been lined up to parrot the lie that no mandate exists for a referendum. Absurdly some of these have been Tory peers. Yet there has been little or no pushback form the SNP besides a few perfunctory cliche-ridden faux-displays of indignation. These are as much use as a chocolate teapot. These are indicative of the SNP “strategy” of doing nothing outside constitutional means.

This is a dead-end strategy. It plays right into Unionist hands. What needs to happen is a date needs to be set for a referendum and a roadmap of how it will become a reality. If this is not done by the end of the summer, Sturgeon needs to be replaced by someone who isn’t Angus Robertson.

Alan Hinnrichs
Dundee

IN reply to your correspondent from Alan Hinnrichs of Dundee (Letters, June 27).

I’m English and have lived here very happily for more than 30 years. In that time I have been insulted just once because of my accent, and that by an ignorant person. I have always supported and worked for the SNP for lots of reasons, not least because I want an independent Scotland, and also I see the Scots in general are a very inclusive society.

I’m astounded and appalled by Alan Hinnrichs’s letter where he states “Unionist guff goes down well with extremists, Orange Order bigots, the elderly, racists and other headbangers”! Can I suggest Mr Hinnrichs offers an apology to “the elderly”? Is there any substance to his claim that the elderly are “headbangers”? This is such an offensive remark.

Remember Mr Hinnrichs, we are supposed to be an inclusive nation, part of which means we do not disrespect very large numbers of our community.

D Moran
via email

FROM the report by Judith Duffy (Tory indyref2 rule change could lead to ‘boycott’, June 27), it seems desperate measures are on the Number 10 table. They are like rats scurrying around on their sinking ship Great Britannia.

If there is any logic to the Westminster Cabinet suggestion that all Scots residing within UK, but outwith Scotland, should be allowed to vote in indyref2, then surely all non-Scottish-born residents living in Scotland should not be permitted to vote.

Now, if only they’d act like responsible considerate grown-ups, and let everyone know exactly why they are so desperate to cling onto a restless nation, then surely the electorate in Scotland could work out for themselves what’s best and vote accordingly.

Any chance? No chance! It seems they’d rather their Union sank of their own accord.

Tom Gray
Braco

ONE of the slogans used by the Unionists in the 2014 referendum was “Better Together”. I saw then, and I am seeing now, very little on “what’s in it for England.”

A lot is covered in the great publication Scotland the Brief, but it difficult to distil this into a clear summary that can be used to illustrate why the Unionists are so determined to hold onto the outdated Union. Many of these translate easily as reasons for independence.

Our target is to persuade undecided and No voters in Scotland to realise that independence is the way forward. Supplementing the case for how Scotland can exist as an independent country with the reasons why England benefits from the status quo (to Scotland’s detriment) will help to counter “Better Together”. Some voters will respond to this dual approach and get them over to Yes.

Douglas Skoyles
Elgin