Sir, I would like to ask fellow Courier readers what independence means to them? My view has always been that independence for Scotland means separation from all ties currently in place in the union.
I am puzzled by what the SNP is proposing as independence. For example, will we have fiscal independence? No we will have the pound, managed by the Bank of England.
Will we have political independence? No we will be in the EU which will require us to be full members subject to the full effect this brings.
Will we have security and military independence? No we will be in NATO obliged to support undesirable conflicts and host military bases belonging to another country.
Will we have independence of identity? No, we will have Queen Elizabeth II as a shared head of state.
So the only independence on offer is from Government by Westminster. So, as I see it, we will be Scotland with a small ‘s’ and independent with a small ‘i’.
To be properly independent shouldn’t we start from the beginning with our own head of state supported by a government committed to producing a forward looking, modern, secure, multi-cultural, fair society?
A government which supports its citizens wherever they are using a robust legal system a currency supported by a well-regulated financial industry, with highly trained and equipped armed forces to protect our interests abroad and with health welfare and educational systems worthy of the name.
Only then should we consider joining treaty organisations on terms which suit us not the other way round.
If all that’s on offer is independence from Westminster and the dissolution of the union of parliaments then it’s not enough for me as we will still be part of the United Kingdom under the union of the crowns. We might as well not bother.
Graham Stewart. Errol.
Why break it up now after 300 years?
Sir, I wish to thank all your readers who have offered to facilitate and fund my departure from Scotland in the unlikely event of its gaining independence. I reckon their money is safe.
Allan MacDougall of Bridge of Allan claimed that, if Scotland were to become independent, life would “go on much as before”.
Oh, would it? It does not take much thought to reel off several areas in which life would not only be different, but much more difficult.
Taxation would be much higher to pay the cost of all the services and state offices now shared between many millions, but which would then be financed by only the comparative few who live north of the border.
Then there are the disastrous and extreme renewable energy policies of the SNP and the Scot Nats’ cosying up to the EU could well place us eventually in the same position as Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and other smaller countries, with catastrophic consequences.
Great Britain has worked very well as a single entity with all its varied peoples contributing to its success. Why break up the union now after more than 300 years for reasons which, as far as I can see, are based on an anti-Englishness which should long since have been forgotten?
George K McMillan. 5 Mount Tabor Avenue, Perth.
Wrong to think otherwise
Sir, It was moving to learn that Ian Lindsay of Eurowind UK Ltd (Letters, December 21) is building a future for our children with his windfarms, when so many thought he was simply trying to make money from them.
Just shows how wrong people can be.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
Always market for quality
Sir I would like to criticise the Government’s decision to close the Remploy organisation, or most of it.
I still possess my old army “woolly pooly” with its Remploy label and can vouch for its quality and durability (50 years)!
I probably used other stuff as well, without being aware of it.
As I understand it, Remploy has an “able bodied” senior management staff who, in my view, have singularly failed to create and drive an active sales organisation, seeking more customers in the private sector and overseas, than the relatively easy public service ones, who are slowly reducing their Remploy requirements (or being told to go elsewhere).
There is always a market for quality.
A T Geddie. 68 Carleton Avenue, Glenrothes.
Aye, there’s always one!
Sir, A group were discussing the severe weather which sadly has affected the North East of Scotland, when one of the party suggested that if it had been snow instead of rain, the flooding would never have occurred, but went silent when she was asked what happens to snow when it melts?
There’s aye one!
John McDonald, 14 Rosebery Court, Kirkcaldy.