MAXINE GORDON (The Press, August 8) says time is running out for Alex Salmond to reassure Scotland about independence giving this as the reason why he will lose in September.

It is the Scottish people who will lose if they don’t grasp their freedom with both hands.

Alistair Darling is the vanguard of a cynical sniping establishment who said they would stay out of the argument yet have done everything possible to frighten the Scots away from their rightful destiny.

Maxine’s scaremongering about oil, currency, EU and pensions is incorrect on all counts. Scotland pays taxes and does not need the pound, especially as plentiful oil and natural energy resources are in their domain with many new oilfields to develop, certainly enough to finance pensions and Scotland can prosper without the EU.

England, Scotland, Wales should be independent nations with agreements on economic and defence co-operation.

Parliamentary independence from Westminster for Yorkshire too, the Yorkshire Ridings reborn, each Riding a political representation to a Yorkshire parliament sitting at York with all councils scrapped and part-time MPs over career politicians any day.

Scotland should vote yes on September the 18th but will probably choose fear over hope and remain cowed by the English establishment.

Tom Scaife, Manor Drive, York.