Readers' letters: Politics not law will decide Scotland's fate

As we await the decision of the Supreme Court on whether the Scottish Parliament has the ability to legislate to hold a referendum on Scottish independence, the nature of the UK is under scrutiny.

The UK is a multinational state, with nations free to leave if they want to. However, apart from Northern Ireland and in the absence of a written constitution, there are no legally or politically agreed ways of allowing this to happen.

If it is decided by the Supreme Court that the Scottish Parliament does not have the ability to determine Scotland’s future, it is then in the hands of the British state to agree to this. Even if the Supreme Court decides that it does, the UK Government does not have to abide by the result of any such referendum, although one would hope it would. Given the current mood in Westminster, it would not be unexpected for it to legislate to reverse this judicial defeat.

This clearly changes the nature of the Union, from what it was believed to be one based on consent, to one based on law.

So, we have the obvious contradiction of a UK Government that accepts that Scotland can become independent, as was illustrated by the vote in 2014, but none of the leading UK parties is willing to outline how such a political goal can be achieved.

The Supreme Court will not provide the answer to how Scotland can determine its own future, this will be a decision for politicians. If continued SNP victories in elections are simply to be disregarded, the onus is on the UK political parties to outline in what circumstances such a vote can take place.

Alex Orr, Edinburgh.

Now is time to call a general election

After enduring Kwasi Kwarteng's supercilious and smirking arrogance, we can take some comfort in his being scapegoated and sacked as Chancellor of the Exchequer by the very leader whose flawed ideology he supported.

This latest Downing Street musical chairs shambles is like Putin trying to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the international community by claiming the war crimes he's perpetrating in Ukraine were not down to him, and hanging some inconsequential general out to dry.

Jeremy Vine is sporting a lettuce on his show that 82 per cent of his Twitter poll reckon will last longer than Truss.

Watching Truss's performance between her PMQs and Friday's press statement her only ever response is that she has delivered her "solution" to the energy crisis by capping average bills at £2500 per annum, ignoring the simple fact that this is still 100 per cent more than this time last year, and still woefully unaffordable for those on low incomes, basic pensions and benefit dependent.

So now Truss has appointed Jeremy Hunt as Chancellor, who we all remember for his flawed stewardship as Health Secretar.

So, what's changed? Chuck Kwasi under the bus for delivering the policies she instructed him to pursue and bring in a replacement languishing in the hinterland of the Tory party. Doesn't this display the paucity of talent in the Conservative party; Truss's desperation to retain her position come what may?

While no one relishes it, the democratic imperative is for the electorate to decide the way forward. We need a general election without delay to right the wrongs of this corrupt Tory party bereft of any competent ideas on how to manage the economy and act in the interests of the entire electorate.

None of this surprises me. My only concern is when are Scots going to get angry enough to demand that we determine our own future.

Jim Taylor, Edinburgh.

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