Alex Salmond: You ask the questions

What was your reaction to the execution of Saddam Hussein and what should Britain do now about Iraq? HOUZAN SALEH, London

I do not support the death penalty and thought the execution of Saddam Hussein has made him a martyr rather than a criminal. I believe that the Government needs a timetabled exit strategy from Iraq.

Given that it was the SNP which reported the cash for honours affair to the police, do you think it was appropriate for the Prime Minister to give a knighthood to the man who will make the decision about prosecuting him or others? B EMMERSON, Yorkshire

The knighthood awarded to Ken Macdonald shows the complete lack of contrition from the Labour Government - especially when combined with the knighthood also awarded to John Scarlett who was the author of the dodgy Iraq dossier - the two biggest shadows over Blair's reign.

If Scotland wins full independence, will you repatriate all those Scottish MPs currently meddling in English domestic politics, and end the constant anti-English diatribe? DAVE JONES, by e-mail

There will be no Scottish MPs at Westminster after independence. The SNP, as you may know, does not vote on English matters at Westminster and it is right that Scottish MPs should not tip the balance on domestic English issues. Independence for Scotland and England would mean a new relationship of equals and would I hope end any diatribes from either side!

How can you justify breaking away from the UK when you know deep cuts to services will have to prevail to keep the economy from falling apart? Would Scotland have its own army or would you rely on the English army? JAMES CRONIN, London

Scotland has a budgetary surplus this year of £600m at a time when the UK has a budgetary deficit approaching £40bn. There would be no cuts in services, but we wouldn't waste our money on new nuclear weapons or the Iraq war! Scotland, like Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Iceland etc, will have armed forces and I can guarantee that a Scottish government I lead will not send our young men and women into an illegal war.

If you don't win the May election outright, who will you go into coalition with? DAWN MACRORY, Aberdeen

We will enter into coalition talks with all parties except the Conservatives. We have already had discussions with the Greens about co-operation in the next parliament short of a formal coalition.

Would you introduce passport controls for English visitors? GEOFFREY CHAPMAN, Guildford

No, there would not be border guards on the border. We would be in exactly the same position as Ireland and the UK today. We can visit our cousins in Cork without passports.

Will the Queen continue to be Queen of an independent Scotland, as the direct descendant of James VI? Or will you reinstate the Stuarts? LAURA CORDON, Lewisham, London

The Queen will be Elizabeth of Scotland in the same way as she is Queen today in Canada, Australia and a host of other Commonwealth nations.

Nationalism has proved to be the scourge of the 20th century, so why should anyone vote for a national party? ANTHONY FIELD, by e-mail

There is British nationalism or Scottish nationalism. I prefer the civic nationalism of small nations that has been expressed through the independence of a dozen European nations of similar size to Scotland in the past 100 years. They have prospered and I'd choose the tolerance and peace of Norway and Ireland over Trident and the illegal Iraq war any day.

How important is North Sea oil for a strong Scotland, and what would you do when it runs out? CHRIS GITTINS, Bristol

On UK government estimates of probable to potential reserves we are about halfway through the reserves of oil in the North Sea, which means that we are probably less than halfway through the revenues. Scotland will prosper when we create a more competitive economy through policies like lower corporate tax. Oil will remain an important part of Scotland's economy, but it is only one part of an impressive resource and economic hand Scotland can play. As important as oil is we have huge renewable potential, with Scotland having as much as 25 per cent of the EU tidal and wind resource, which with the right approach can deliver a second energy windfall for our nation.

Many people foresee an EU of Scotlands, Catalonias, Bavarias etc, instead of big nations. How imperative is Europe in your long-term ambitions for Scotland? CAMPBELL WATERMAN, by e-mail

I want to see Scotland as a full member of the EU. It makes sense for the nations of this continent to co-operate and in areas such as trade and the economy there is no doubt that the single market and our partnership provides huge benefits. Independent membership of the EU would also allow a Scottish government to stand up for Scottish interests in areas such as the fishing industry which has long been sold short by the UK Government in EU negotiations.

Would Cumbria be better off Scottish? GEOFF SMITH, Crosby nr Maryport

The SNP has no territorial ambitions on England - even for our friends in Cumbria.

Do you accept that independence for Scotland would mean an end to the generous subsidy funded by English taxpayers? ALLAN MUNDS, Isle of Wight

There is of course no subsidy from England to Scotland - quite the opposite. You may not realise, but the basis for this attack on Scotland is a set of figures that excludes revenues from the Scottish sector of the North Sea and includes a charge for English courts, prisons and tourism promotion to name but a few. This year Scotland is in relative surplus to the UK to the tune of almost £3bn and including all our nation's resources we have been in surplus for the last three decades. You may want to consider why it is that the SNP argues for full fiscal independence for Scotland (we raise and spend our money ourselves) while the UK Government wants to keep the current system with its supposed subsidy!

What happens if Shetland decides on self determination from Scotland? Is Scottish independence viable without North Sea oil and gas? BRIAN FLETCHER, by e-mail

Ireland is doing very well without any oil or gas resource. Scotland will flourish when we can create a competitive advantage for our economy - through policies like lower corporation tax. I have every confidence that Shetland will remain part of Scotland, despite attempts to divide and rule!

Scotland has a disproportionately large percentage of its workforce in the public sector. An independent Scotland could not flourish like this. What would you do about it? ALLAN FORRESTER, Westray, Orkney

Scotland is not flourishing. We have the lowest long-term growth in the EU and that is because we do not have the financial flexibility to give Scotland a competitive edge. Ireland, Norway and Iceland - our three neighbours and all in the top six wealthiest in the world - are no more talented or entrepreneurial, they have no advantage in terms of skills, geography or people. They do have the ability to choose their own direction and work to their strengths - an option denied Scotland while London has remote control of the main economic levers.

In the event of Scottish independence, what do you think the consequences will be for the proposed Trident replacement. JOHN BUTLER, Kidderminster

The British Government would have to find a new site for its nuclear arsenal. I'd hope that independence for Scotland might make them think again about a new generation of these devastating and immoral weapons.

In an independent Scotland, would you hold a referendum on leaving Nato? ALEX SKINNER, by e-mail

There would not be a referendum on this issue, it would be decided by the Scottish government who could choose to follow Finland and be partners with Nato (as the SNP proposes) or Norway and be members of Nato.

Why do Scottish and Welsh nationalists not have candidates in England? It is wrong to think the English are against the break-up of the Union. PAUL BRAZIER, Wotton under Edge

We are a Scottish party and having us standing in England would be like the Tories standing in France!

Why can't the Scots produce any decent music? Franz Ferdinand are rubbish, the Bay City Rollers were a joke, and bagpipes are noise pollution. What will do you for a national anthem? MARTIN FORREST, Newcastle upon Tyne

It's a question of taste. Millions would disagree with you about Scotland's musical record, but I can promise that the Bay City Rollers won't be providing the national anthem!

If Scotland breaks away, should not all Scottish peers be removed from the (English) House of Lords, such as Lord Strathclyde? NATALIE JONES, by e-mail

Yes, but that would be a decision for Westminster.

If the SNP wins the Scottish elections in May, which bits of UK-wide legislation will you block? Road pricing? ID cards? ROBERT MACBRIDE, Oban

The devolved Parliament cannot "block" UK legislation in reserved areas. With independence though we would not introduce Big Brother ID cards, preferring to spend the money instead on the real security of more police patrolling our streets.

Who is the greater poet, Burns or Shakespeare? ELEANOR HATTON, Islington

No doubt - Robert Burns. Shakespeare was the better dramatist!

Isn't it true that Scots don't really want independence? They just support you because they are fed up with Labour and the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives are non existent in Scotland? HUGH MACDONALD, Edinburgh

Recent polls suggest otherwise. A clear majority of Scots now support independence.

Why did you stand down as leader, and why did you come back? DAVID SMITH,

I was leader for 10 years and after the Scottish election of 1999 I felt that was a good time to step down. I came back to campaign to be First Minister of Scotland and because I believe we can make Scotland a more successful country than we are today.

Do you support green taxes? HENRY BIRTLES, Hackney, London

Yes, but only as part of a package and not the blunt taxes favoured by this Chancellor, such as hikes in fuel duty which hurt people in rural areas who do not have the same alternatives to the car. We have to do more than just tax people - for example if we want people to use the plane less often, why not invest in a high-speed train link from north to south. That would see a significant fall in domestic air travel in the UK.

If you were Scotland's First Minister, just how bad would your relations with a Labour government be? SIMON JONES, Whitstable

The UK is a mature democracy and has good relations with governments across Europe and the world. I see no reason why the same would not apply with Scotland.

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