WHEN Scotland voted for devolution it understood that its coming parliament would not be able to legislate on constitutional matters affecting the rest of the United Kingdom. The fact that the UK Government consented to the independence referendum of 2014, on the understanding that it was a “once in a generation event”, should be accepted for what it was; an act of great political courage and generosity. Was it also an act of betrayal? I suspect that many who voted for devolution would not have done so had they believed that this would eventually lead to a referendum on independence.

It is now clear to anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear, that the SNP will never accept the continuance of our Union and will forever seek to undermine it and find fresh grievances to stoke the fires of nationalist enmity, in a never-ending attempt to justify further referendums.

Scotland is crying out for stability and effective government and the last thing we need is the distraction of yet another plebiscite. I am sure that I cannot be alone in hoping that Westminster will indeed refuse to co-operate with such an outcome (“Tories to block Sturgeon bid for independence vote”, The Herald, February 2). Should it not give consent, then any referendum, organised by Holyrood Catalonia-style, would be purely advisory and I would urge those, who like me are sick of going constantly to the ballot box, to boycott such an event, and in so doing, rob it of any pretence to legitimacy.

Jim Meikle,

41 Lampson Road, Killearn.

I WAS a little surprised to read the argument put forward by Duncan MacLaren to seemingly support a second independence referendum in Scotland (Letters, February 2).

He suggests that since Scotland did not vote for Brexit we require to revisit independence because of a change in our “material circumstances” and – I found somewhat obscure – “dignity and a sense of the common good”.

I would have thought that the poor loser stance which the SNP has consistently adopted since the 2014 referendum has been the most undignified experience Scotland and indeed the UK has had to endure for some time. We appear to have exchanged the Scottish cringe for the Scottish gripe.

What Mr MacLaren seems to infer is that we should ignore the common good of our 310-year-old partnership and only put Scotland first I suspect he may have been following the political sentiments of Donald Trump too closely. We should be studying a glass half full and not half empty. The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation has led by example by stating: “The catching sector of the fishing industry is united in its conviction that exit from the EU presents a unique set of opportunities for Scotland to reinvigorate its coastal and island communities and deliver a thriving, profitable and sustainable seafood industry.”

The power of positive thinking is a wonderful driving force. Turning challenges into opportunities is going to be a task for all sectors of Scottish life. We are keeping the UK and leaving the EU – learn to live with it.

Bill Brown,

46 Breadie Drive, Milngavie.

I BELIEVE First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will be relieved at the statement by Sir Michael Fallon that the UK Government will do nothing to facilitate a second independence referendum in the lifetime of the present Westminster Parliament.

Better to have called her bluff instead of aiding posturing and contrived grievance.

Softly, softly catchee monkey.

R Russell Smith,

96 Milton Road, Kilbirnie.

SO Sir Michael Fallon says “No, forget it” to a second referendum on independence? The SNP Government has “no mandate" to hold one – this from a minister appointed by a Prime Minister whose only “mandate” is from the Tory MPs who themselves hold nothing like a majority in terms of a popular vote – and only one seat in Scotland.

So be it. There need be no referendum.

Your editorial (“Gauntlet is thorown down to Strugeon”, The Herald, February 2) outlines a range of options open to Ms Sturgeon, but omits the most obvious one. With 54 of 59 MPs (plus two nationalist “independents”) in Westminster, and the largest single party in Holyrood (plus independence-minded Greens), is it not perhaps time to revert to the original concept by which the SNP would gain our national independence?

The SNP should recall its members from Westminster to reconvene in Holyrood, and proclaim de jure, what exists de facto: A democratic mandate for Scottish independence – with immediate effect.

Dr John O’Dowd,

3 Downfield Gardens, Bothwell.

TODAY (February 2) you reported on two stories; the first that the Defence Secretary, Sir Michael Fallon, announced an intention by the Tory Government to block a second independence referendum. The second story, also a statement from the same individual, said that the entire fleet of British submarines will be stationed on the Clyde from 2020 (“Clyde to house entire UK fleet of submarines”, The Herald, February 2). Coincidence?

Scotland is always being told that it is too poor to be independent and it needs the stability and subsidy of the rest of the UK to continue as a functioning entity. If we assume for one minute that this is true, then why does England feel that it needs to financially support Scotland? It may be simple generosity from the English to its co-islanders, but another more devious reason is much more likely.

From a military perspective Scotland offers England many facilities not available further south including missile, bomb and gun-testing ranges, mountainous areas for low-level pilot training and inshore deep water anchorages, including those suitable for submarines. The biggest military consideration, however, is simply Scotland’s position on the margin of the UK-Iceland Gap. This is a naval choke-point and is one of the few routes available to Russian navy/submarines for gaining access to the open Atlantic. No military commander would give up control of that without a fight.

So, in future, if you ever hear an English politician tell Scotland that it is too poor to go it alone, just remind yourself that they are being sleekit. They simply want to retain the control of prime military real estate to Westminster.

Bob Downie,

66 Mansewood Road, Glasgow.

IN his arrogant and ill-informed dismissal of the possibility of another independence referendum in Scotland, the UK Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon was commenting on constitutional matters for which he has no responsibility and clearly little understanding. “No, forget it” is hardly a suitable response for any Westminster Minister to make in respect of the perfectly justified frustration and anger throughout Scotland regarding the current situation.

First, when did Scottish constitutional matters become the responsibility of the Defence Ministry? Or is the Scotland Office now a section of Sir Michael’s grossly expensive department, and David Mundell now a junior minister under him?

Secondly, Sir Michael gloats that the SNP no longer has a majority at Holyrood (and presumably implies that it therefore has no authority to govern). But with 63 seats out of 129 it fell only two seats short of that majority, and still has the overwhelming support of the people of Scotland in terms of votes cast. It is only the bizarre outcome of the regional vote that has denied it this majority – getting 43 per cent of those votes provided only four seats, whereas the Conservatives got 24 seats with just 23 per cent and Labour 21 seats with a miserable less than 20 per cent of the votes cast.

In addition, the two critical SNP losses in Edinburgh were bizarre results against all national trends, but these have never been properly noted or examined. In Edinburgh West the winning Liberal Democrat vote increased by 14 per cent and the Labour vote went down by 12 per cent. Not far away in Edinburgh South the exact opposite happened, with the LibDems losing almost 19 per cent of its vote and winning Labour going up by 14 per cednt. Nothing like these fluctuations were reflected anywhere else in Scotland, and one must wonder if there was some collusion and voter influence between the two parties to produce such a conflicting position.

Finally, I wonder if the residents of the Fair City (with SNP representation at both Westminster and Holyrood) are proud of their Perth-born son Michael Fallon, and welcome his contemptuous comments on Scotland’s subservient place within the UK?

Iain AD Mann,

7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.

SIR Michael Fallon dredges up the result of the 2014 referendum, but a lot of constitutional water has flowed under the bridge since then. In 2015, Scotland delivered 56 out of its quota of 59 Westminster seats to the SNP, and in 2016 the SNP won its historic third consecutive term in office at the Scottish parliamentary elections on a manifesto which stated that there would only be a second independence referendum "if there were a significant and material change of circumstances, such as being dragged out of the EU against our will". A few weeks later, every local authority area in Scotland voted to remain within the European Union, and it is that result, and the commitment given in the SNP's manifesto which gives the Scottish Parliament, on behalf of the people of Scotland, the right to call a second independence referendum. The UK Conservative Government with its one MP in Scotland has no mandate to impose its will on Scotland and on Wednesday evening, Scotland's sole Conservative MP was the only Scottish MP to vote to trigger Article 50.

Sir Michael should be reminded that during the 2014 campaign, the Scottish electorate was told that the only way it could secure its place in Europe was by voting No, and indeed Ruth Davidson has already said that the UK Government should not threaten to block a second independence referendum. Sir Michael's hard line and arrogant stance is not only disrespectful to the democratically elected Scottish Government, it is disrespectful to the people of Scotland, and starkly proves that the Tories have learned nothing from their past catalogue of mistakes in their attitude to Scotland's wishes and aspirations.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road, Stirling.