GLEN Peters raises an interesting point about EU refusing to support Scotland in the event of a “wildcat” referendum (Letters, June 21).

First off, let’s not be drawn into the Unionists referring to a referendum as “wildcat”. It is consultative, no less than the Brexit vote which the EU accepted as legitimate.

Second, the EU has no part to play in the process Scotland undertakes to determine its own future. The EU can’t be seen to become involved in a nation’s internal politics, just as it didn’t with Catalonia.

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Third, if an independent Scotland applies to join the EU it will be as an independent country, it will be legitimate in international law, and how it achieved that status will be irrelevant to the application process.

Fourth, a consultative referendum, which the Brexiteers seized on as the will of the people and required to be enacted, will be irresistible to enactment if this alleged British democracy is to protect its democratic credentials. Unwittingly, Brexit has shown us a legitimate way to achieve independence, how to legally withdraw from a union.

The Section 30 route is now superfluous, rendered an ineffective bar to separation. We should remember Scotland’s historic right to nationhood. We were entered into union by vested interest Scottish nobles, not the will of the people, whose protests at the time were quashed by the “British” army. Democracy demands our nationhood right to resile from that Union. We may have to turn the clock back 315 years to legally regain control of our own country. We just need to ensure we don’t allow the vested-interest Unionists to set the agenda.

Jim Taylor
Edinburgh

ANDY Anderson (Letters, Jun 21) tells us that a consultative referendum “is absolutely right and will be successful.” He goes on to boldly state: “The Scottish people are sovereign, and their will is what matters in international law. If the SNP are going to use a consultative referendum to get the opinion of the Scottish people, then that is wise. Because this can’t be overturned by any court decision and it will deliver what we need, the clear voice of the Scottish people.”

In a final act of faith he states: “The Scottish people will succeed. If this is what the Scottish Government is planning to do then they will win our independence.”

Any consultative referendum would most likely be boycotted by the Unionists. The problem with that scenario is that the winning post is moved forward from 50% +1 of the votes cast to 50%+1 of the whole electorate. It would, in fact, make the task of winning a referendum much harder. There are around 4,000,000 electors in Scotland. Presumably to win this referendum Yes would then require more than 2,000,000 votes. Considering that in 2014 Yes achieved only 1,617,989 votes, gaining around 400,000 new ones in just over a year in the current political and economic climate seems unlikely at best.

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The SNP have wasted the past eight years, which could and should have been used to educate the Scottish public and advance the case for independence. They have left themselves a political mountain to climb in the space of just over a year. By having a consultative referendum they will just make the mountain that much higher.

It is time that some Yes and SNP supporters like Andy realised that we have to live in the real world, where wishing and saying does not mean actually achieving. Even if we somehow, suddenly achieved the support of more than 2,000,000 voters it will not simply be backed overnight by the entire international community all gleefully celebrating our freedom. I most sincerely wish things were that simple – but they just aren’t.

I hope the First Minister will return from her speaking engagement in Italy in time to update the Scottish Parliament before it breaks for the summer recess. Perhaps this fundamental change of course will require the approval of the SNP conference in October. It probably should. That will mean another three-month delay in the campaign and an even further reduction in the chance of a majority Yes vote.

Andy, my heart hopes that you are right but my head tells me you are wrong. I suppose we will all just have to wait and see.

Glenda Burns
Glasgow

REGARDING the articles in Wednesday’s paper.

1) Its clear that we, the people of Scotland, do have the right to choose our own future.

2) BUT not through our Scottish Government, due to this being outwith the powers of Holyrood, and as it will be deemed unlawful by the courts.

3) So it looks like FIRSTLY we need to ask the UK Government to “allow the Scottish Government to hold a referendum on Scottish independence”.

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4) Should the UK Government grant legal permission to the Scottish Government to hold indyref2, it might be more likely to be ruled lawful by the courts.

A bit confusing picking up all the bits in Wednesday’s articles.

Michael Maclennan
Brora

A TOTAL of 27 questions were raised during PMQs on Wednesday. The main opposition (Labour) receive six questions automatically, with the next main opposition party (SNP) receiving two questions. The other 19 questions came from MPs with the breakdown as follows: Labour 13 = 48% (including six statutory), Conservative 9 = 33%, SNP 2= 7.5% (including two statutory) LibDem 1 = 3%, Alliance Party in Ireland 1 = 3%, Greens 1 = 3%. Is this a fair representation of the elected members? Should PMQs be extended from its current 30 minutes weekly? With the current cost-of-living crisis, fuel costs out of control, inflation at a 40-year high, a war in Europe, questions to the PM are vital, as answers are required and accountability must be forthcoming.

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk