George Osborne apparently predicted that Britain by 2030 (I think that was the date mentioned) would be the world leading economy.

My query is, was that with a United Kingdom or disunited?

That is, will Scotland still be a part of the Union in 2030? Will we be still a member of the European Union?

Of which, my understanding is that, again Scotland, plus Wales and Northern Ireland want to stay.

Plus I believe, that 50 per cent or so of our leading British companies are, in fact, foreign owned. Will they stay here in the UK if we were outside of the EU?

The trouble with Messrs Osborne and Cameron, they do like to reassure their members, that ‘all is well’.

Whereas, most of us, are far more realistic.

Labour have run out of ideas now that oil prices have dropped.

And the SNP got it all wrong. As oil revenues will be much lower therefore, they cannot afford independence.

The Liberal Democrat message seems to be not to make dramatic spending cuts, as would the Conservatives – not borrow to beyond what we can afford, as would Labour.

And of course, not leave the EU.

Recent years have been difficult, and there are some small signs of a recovery. But jobs are far from being secure.

Therefore co-operation is essential and we need Europe on side. And the other major economies want to trade with the EU, not so much with the UK on its own.

Richard Grant, Burley.