Sir, In yet another “Sermon from the Mount”, or at least Mount Tabor Avenue, George K McMillan tells us that “if it ain’t broke (the union) don’t fix it”.
Sorry George, but it is broken. It was broken during the reign of Good Queen Maggie and the break justgets wider with every Tory government.
And herein lies the problem. The Scots don’t vote Tory, don’t want Tories and will vote tactically to ensure they don’t get Tories, but the demography of the UK is such that the English can out-vote us every time, so we end up with a government that we neither wished nor voted for.
So much for democracy in Scotland.
We all know that Mr McMillan is an unregenerate Tory he never stops telling us so but he is obviously in the minority in Scotland.
Could he therefore stop these incessant “sermons”?
I’m old enough to remember when the Tories were a political power in Scotland, but Mrs Thatcher changed all that and David Cameron is simply exacerbating the situation.
As a PS, can I give a very grudging pat on the back to Jenny Hjul? Much as I detest her anti-independence rants, at least she managed to find the word “secessionists”.
At least it’s a change from the now clichd “separatists”.
Jim Robertson. 194 High Street, Montrose.
UK is the envy of the world
Sir, The separatists are correct in saying that the referendum is not about Alex Salmond although he is the architect and his policies are the prime mover. Neither is it about the Tories, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, or the Labour Party. It’s about whether we wish to tear apart a successful united nation forged together out of 300 years of cooperation, tolerance and mutual support.
Whatever the separatists say, if it happens, then that separation will be a messy divisive affair with acrimony, disappointment and resentment among the losers, lasting decades if not generations.
The challenges facing a potentially independent Scotland are huge and uncertain. No one would dispute that. And despite what Mr Salmond asserts, the relationship with our fellow Britons will fundamentally change.
Economic fortunes wax and wane, political bickering is normal and healthy, national pride and self-esteem are perfectly acceptable. All these situations exist within our union now but together we are stronger by far than the sum of our parts. This, I believe, is what the referendum is all about. No amount of dodgy accounting, promises, conjecture, speculation or political hypothesis can alter this fact.
Whether it’s Scotland or the United Kingdom, separatists are forcing us to give up one of these identities. You can’t be British and Scottish post-independence.
Personally I find this an impossible decision to make and I bitterly resent the separatists’ proposed theft of my birthright which generations of my family, with roots in every nation in the union, strove to create for the indisputable benefit of all.
A successful family can have fiercely independent individuals but their strength comes from mutual respect and support. In this respect our United Kingdom is the envy of the world. I will vote “no”.
Iain G Richmond. Guildy House, Monikie.
You call that a working union?
Sir, “As far as the union is concerned – if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! And it ain’t!” says George K McMillan.
But it is. Only one constituent part of the UK voted Conservative at the last election, yet the whole of the UK is governed by that English majority.
You call that a working union?
Laurie Richards. 100 Crail Road, Cellardyke.
Fed up with this attitude
Sir, For years we have had the media and Westminster politicians giving out the impression that Scotland was likened to the ragged boy standing at the tradesmens entrance of the English mansion with a begging bowl in his hand.
Now with the independent referendum looming we are being told that we are one big family and instead of the tradesmens entrance we are now being shown to the front door and invited in as one of the family.
A few years ago while on holiday in Egypt I was sitting on a bench enjoying the view when I was joined by another senior citizen and we were having a nice conversation about the weather and scenery until he asked where I was from and on hearing the word Scottish his attitude immediately changed and he ranted on about how he (the English) was paying for us Scots getting free heath care etc, etc.
The effect of such attitudes is that it is tending to push me into a “yes” vote whatever the consequences. Just for the hell of it.
John Ritchie. 131 Bridge Street, Montrose.
Public service phone puzzle
Sir, With reference to Wednesday’s letters, John M Page states that a gadget blocks cold callers. I am also pestered by these calls so I bought a caller ID phone and any “international” or withheld numbers go unanswered.
I live in council accommodation and the problem now is that if you are waiting for a council member to call you their number comes up as withheld.
Why should a public service need to keep its number secret?
Dave Dakers. Inch Terrace, Montrose.