THE Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, is perfectly correct when he states that there is absolutely no case for another referendum on the question of Scotland seeking independence from the UK for at least 25 to 40 years.

The Agreement reached in Edinburgh between First Minister Alex Salmond and Prime Minister David Cameron was quite specific in the fact that the 2014 Referendum was to be a ‘once-in-a-generation’ poll. And let’s not forget that Nicola Sturgeon was also present when that Agreement was signed.

The SNP currently leads a minority Administration in the Scottish Parliament. It is probably correct to say that they are more politically aggressive than all the other political parties put together, but that does not mean that their views are necessarily correct.

The most crucial point which we Scots should really take into account before forming an allegiance to any particular Party is, how strong is the Scottish economy? The Nationalists certainly make the most noise, but what is the old expression about ‘empty barrels’? And let’s face it, how would they manage without continuance of the considerable inputs from the UK Treasury, through the Barnett Formula, into the Scottish economy?

In any case what guarantee is there that the SNP would even accept the result of a second vote? We Scots could well be described as being in a state of ‘indyref ad infinitum’.

Surely the safest course to follow in these troubled times is that of the status quo?

Robert I G Scott, Ceres, Fife.

SO Mr Jack now claims that he was only joking when he said there could be no second referendum for 40 years, and that 25 years would be a more realistic figure.

I am reminded of another recent “joke”, when Mike Pompeo made his quip about there being a smooth transition to a second Trump administration in the US.

Am I alone in thinking that there was a strong element of wishful thinking in both Mr Jack’s and Mr Pompeo’s statements? No-one really doubts that Mr Jack would prefer there to be 40 years before a second referendum, just as Mr Pompeo, a true Trump loyalist, would prefer to ignore the incontrovertible evidence of Joe Biden’s victory and see Trump serve another four years in office – God forbid.

A. Stephens, Edinburgh.

THERE is little doubt that Scotland is split right down the middle as far as the question of independence is concerned, with some separatists wanting independence tomorrow, irrespective of the consequences.

The half who currently support the Union would never countenance considering separation without detailed answers to the very important questions which will affect every man, woman and child in Scotland for decades – questions which currently no SNP representative has ventured to answer fully.

This SNP regime is unable to efficiently handle currently devolved powers and as the respected businessman Jim McColl stated recently, “everything they touch is a mess”.

It is inconceivable that people in Scotland would vote for independence on the basis of “sorting it out later” or “hope for the best” should independence be achieved. Separatists should be very careful what they wish for and might vote for. Clearly, hearts rule heads, which is no basis on which to commit the future of our country.

Douglas Cowe, Newmachar , Aberdeenshire.

DR John Cameron (letters, November 17) tells us that “the majority of Scots favour departing into the night with a grossly incompetent SNP Government”.

The truth is that the majority of Scots favour entering the daylight in which, as a democratic nation, they could choose their own Government, competent or otherwise.

Surely it is time for Dr Cameron and other Unionists to stop peddling the well-worn myth that an independent Scotland would be a one-party state.

Many Scots, myself included, look forward to the day when neither independence nor unionism would be prominent electoral issues for our nation.

Willie Maclean, Milngavie.

I NOTICE that many of your correspondents are in the habit of making regular attacks on Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. Do they really have nothing better to do with their time?

M Anderson, Glasgow.