Letters: The beauty of brick

The Union in peril

Sir: Fraser Nelson (‘The great pretender’, 15 May) writes that it has never been easier to make a bold positive case for the Union. He suggests the UK government starts to fight. Perhaps the starting point could be the benefits which flowed from 1707 — joint citizenship, a currency union, a customs union and wealth transfer — both individual and national (the Barnett dividend speaks for itself). Without the Union these would not have happened. Without the Union there is no guarantee any of these will continue. It is not Project Fear to point that out.

The sooner Scots begin to understand that retaining UK citizenship, the Barnett dividend and the security of having their state and public sector pensions paid in sterling will all be put in peril (and almost certainly lost) by ‘independence’, the better. These are the points which must be hammered home. If they are, support for ‘independence’ will fall, the SNP will not dare to press a referendum and Sturgeon will realise the game is a bogey and go off to do something else while she can.

Kenneth Ross

Auchencairn, Castle Douglas

Scotland’s future allies

Sir: Fraser Nelson’s analysis of the Scottish referendum debate has much to recommend it for the short-term tactical scenario. However, in the longer term there are more alarming factors to consider. The general view is that the Scottish economy will fail and the country will be condemned to poverty. Where will Scotland turn to then? Since Scotland currently does not meet the criteria for membership of the EU, and is unlikely to in the future, the most likely saviour will be Russia, possibly aided also by China. Energy, broadband, phone systems, vaccinations and military arms are commodities that are likely to be offered on favourable terms. How long before England’s indifference will turn to grave concern at the prospect of these new neighbours on our shores?

Gen Z handwriting

Sir: Mary Wakefield is right to lament the decline in handwriting in recent years (‘The writing’s on the wall’, 15 May), but I would like to reassure her that it will not die out entirely; at least not if I can help it.