Having lived in magical Montgomeryshire for over 20 years, I nevertheless despair over the independence issue, touted in the broadsheets in recent weeks and in party political broadcasts. Devolution was a good idea, even though just a quarter who were eligible to vote made it happen.

Who pays for it? It would be expensive. 2018/19 figures show Welsh public spending per head of population, is seven pe cent more than the UK average, while revenue generated was 77 per cent of the UK average. It’s surprising England do not want independence from us – their cash keeps us afloat.

Scotland is slightly different, with two-thirds more population than Wales. Parts of Scotland are over five hundred miles from London. Where in Wales is more than a hundred miles from a motorway? Scotland have mainland and islands tourism, agriculture, financial services, huge whisky exports and £700 million oil revenue – albeit shrinking. Wales has great agriculture, tourism and some hi-tech- of which we need more, inspired by Enterprise Zones. Hereford has one, and Snowdonia – why not Newtown?

English MPs, each represent 106,000 constituents, Welsh MPs some 79,000. Bring in 60 Senedd Members – far too many, and each MP/MS represents, on average, 32,000. This simply means our representatives are three times, as expensive per head of population than in England. Pruning is overdue.

Let’s get real, and be pragmatic like the Airbus workers, who have taken a 10 per cent pay cut, and shorter hours, to save colleagues’ jobs. Would that our political representatives had similar mindsets.

Welsh traditions, rugby, choirs, fabulous country side and coast, our outlook and ethos really matter, and must be cherished.

However, full independence would serve no useful purpose in these difficult times, when we must cut public costs, live on less and within our means.

Bruce Lawson

Montgomery