ONE step at a time. Who would be daft enough to buy the wallpaper for a new house before securing the house? Focus on the first, then all others will follow when options become clear.

I could not agree more with Steve Arnott’s long letter (Jan 7) where he boldly gave reasons to separate the independence vote and the question of EU membership. The EU, EFTA or perhaps an arrangement unique to Scotland would be more appropriate in view of our uniquely imbalanced land ownership structure, which presents an inherent limitation on democratic opportunities for development of Scottish society and communities.

READ MORE: Putting the EU question on the back-burner could cost us independence

We are all born dependent on land, and ownership of land comes at a price to all others denied of it.

High-rise flats, poverty and homelessness are all consequences of imbalanced land ownership, yet we have these in a small country where a tiny minority dominate ownership and decision-making over our land mass.

As has been raised often recently in the National Conversation, Annual Ground Rent/Land value tax is the civilised solution to the huge disparity of opportunity prevalent in Scotland. Securing our independence is the first step, options on the next will follow.

Tom Gray
Braco