Iain Macwhirter ties abhorrence of nuclear weapons to support for independence (Gay rights, ethnic diversity, open borders and taking a stand against weapons of mass destruction … Time to accentuate the moral case for a Yes vote, Comment, August 17).

In fact, a "moral stand against weapons of mass destruction" is widely shared, and in no way peculiar to Scotland. Many governments, including that of the UK, claim to work for the reduction and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. What the Scottish Government's White Paper offers is the negotiated removal of two Trident bases from an independent Scotland, which would also seek to become a member of Nato, whose stated policy involves nuclear deterrence. This is a Nimby position, not a moral one. It would do nothing to reduce the stock of nuclear weapons, or the risk of their use.

Mick Common

Port Bannatyne, Bute

I heartily agree with Brian Quail that not enough has been made of the Trident factor in the referendum Yes campaign (Eliminating Trident genesis of new land, Letters, August 17). Not only from a financial and moral point of view, but also and perhaps mostly from the environmental point of view. Apart from relatively minor pollution, which probably exists already, it is not too far-fetched to think of the real danger of another Chernobyl caused either by accident or by a natural phenomenon (the Japanese know better now) or by an act of terrorism.

Lesley Picken

Hamilton