Expat Stuart Hunter of Bognor Regis (Latin for King’s Cludgie?) made the Scotsman’s letter pages a few days ago and Marjorie Ellis Thomson put him right.

‘Ex-pat”- as he terms himself, Stewart Hunter of Bognor Regis cautions Scots about the perils of independence and warns us we would lose the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the Coastguard and the partially privatised Post Office. He also raises questions about currency and visas.

Whilst noting that none of those things have troubled former colony  Ireland-now a roaring success, let’s focus on the big issue. Firstly, are our military services fit for purpose? Is he aware that to a certain extent, at least for the Navy, we have already outsourced their management to Babcock, incidentally the renamed  company responsible for Three Mile Island, the worst nuclear accident in US history?

As for the RAF, sure, we can support US military adventurism abroad, but how many fire fighting helicopters are in public ownership in the UK?-one, in Wales, available for 6 months a year.

An independent Scotland would be able to assess its genuine defensive needs and act accordingly, very likely strengthening the maritime component and purchasing equipment for, as well as training for, the real threats we face in today’s world. Before anybody comes back with ‘But Putin..’ the arms bonanza in which we have participated hasn’t achieved much has it?

Finally, what about the 200 bases the UK still maintains in 45 countries? What are those for and how does that protect Scotland?

Answers on a postcard from delightful Bognor Regis welcomed!