I DO not blame Ms Sturgeon for once again raising the prospect of Scottish independence.

It is the very raison d’être of her own and the SNP’s political philosophy.

Not even for cynically using the referendum result as a kind of stalking horse. Which is of itself, a false justification.

If the Scots had followed the preference of the majority, she would had simply sought some other justification.

She has not the powers to demand another Scottish vote on it and Parliament has no mandate for allowing it.

This could only be considered post the next general election. By then, we will no longer be a member of the EU (our Government and the EU willing).

She has already been told by Brussels that non-sovereign districts cannot even apply to join. Should they agree, parts of Greece, and Italy, not to mention the Basques, would be forming a queue.

Then she will be forced to confront the dilemmas that the last referendum faced.

All UK military bases there, together with Scottish regiments, would have to be disbanded.

And what becomes of Rosyth? And what happens with Dounreay? That is after the difficulties of creating a currency of their own, establishing and maintaining a border, providing their own passports and codifying their legal system have been addressed.

Only then could they apply for EU membership. How many years are we talking about now? Anybody willing to guess?

Malcolm Glover, Lindsey Avenue, York