DOUGLAS Ross advises against voting in any referendum not authorised by the UK Government ( Ross calls on unionists to ignore any ‘wildcat’ independence vote , The Herald, January 26), but if an Act of the Scottish Parliament is challenged and authorised by the courts (Scottish or Supreme), it would become a legal referendum, and would be recognised internationally. Mr Ross’s assertion that only the UK Government (not the Westminster Parliament, note) can legitimise any Scottish plebiscite gives that body a permanent veto over Scottish democratic change, and is surely wrong in a cardinal principle of international law(the right to self-determination of a people). When Boris Johnson makes his journey to Scotland this week, could Mr Ross ask if Mr Johnson would obey the will of the courts in this matter?