Sir, As a “yes” voter I find Dr Cameron’s latest comments on the referendum insulting to say the least. There is no expectation among “yes” voters that come September 19 we will all wake up to Shangri La.
What we will wake up to is a different Scotland and an opportunity to make it a country where the ambitious can fulfil their ambitions and not be forced through the lack of opportunities to leave Scotland in pursuit of economic security.
We can achieve this at home without the benefit of 300-year-old advice from an English xenophobe.
The public gullibility that Dr Cameron speaks of is at last showing signs of ending, as for the snake oil salesmen he speaks of he directs his fire at the wrong target. For years the Tories, Labour and Lib/Dems were the real snake oil salesmen who, come election time, each competed to sell the electorate a bill of goods they had no intention of delivering, with the exception of some cosmetic measures they felt were in their interest.
Their latest panic measures to gull the public into voting “no” is a case in point. This lot are past masters at reneging on their promises. Guarantees given have a habit of becoming aspirations all too often.
Dr Cameron considers all “yes” voters as workshy introverts. I have yet to meet anyone in the Yes camp who merits this description. The workshy introverts exclusively belong to that class of dodgy bankers, hedge fund operators, Lords and Westminster politicians who collectively think manual labour is a Spaniard.
“Yes” voters look forward to a new Scotland with enthusiasm, to a government of their choice, to be represented by politicians who do not ask for their vote and then disappear to Westminster for the next four years and forget all the promises made.
As an octogenarian, who has worked all his life, I am neither workshy nor introverted, and after a lifetime of observing the chicanery of the Westminster politicians I concluded some time ago it is time to take responsibility for our own destiny.
James Smith. 4 Brownhill Place, Camperdown, Dundee.
New offer after votes cast
Sir, As I won’t be here on September 18 my vote is cast and in the true style of unionist tricks they decide to make offers when hundreds of thousands of people have already voted.
We have waited for a new Scotland bill for years then like buses two come along at the same time. Gordon Brown parachuted in to save the union and make an offer which will be enacted by the end of January. The last time the Labour Party made an offer like this it took 18 years for them to do it.
I am perplexed that he can enact a new Scotland bill which he has the cheek to call home rule in a few months, but in same breath says disengagement from Westminster would take years.
The man should remain at home in Fife and reflect on the mess he made of things when in power.
The only power that can enable this country is the full power that comes with independence and not when it is treated as a region of some other country with governments that take us into illegal wars, banking crises and a system that has seen some get very rich and others struggle to put food on the table.
It’s no wonder a third of Labour voters are now in the independence camp, now that Gordon Brown has entered the fray perhaps this will encourage more.
Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage. Ardargie.
‘Yellow Brick Road’ march
Sir, I find it comical but sad that the executive of the Orange Order can organise a march of its members to support the No movement. Surely it is nigh impossible for such a large body of people to be collectively in agreement on what is not only a political issue but also a major constitutional one.
“Yes” seems to be a word alien to the Orange Order. Their cry is: No surrender; No Pope in Rome; No Pope outside Rome; No Good Friday Agreement; No independence; and so forth.
This latest procession conjures up memories of the scarecrow strutting along the Yellow Brick Road on his gain-a-brain march, only to be told “no” in the end by the wizard, but to convince him that what he sought had been achieved, the wizard gave him a diploma.
William Burns. 41/8 Pennywell Road, Edinburgh.
Use your head: vote “no”
Sir, On our TV screens, every night, we see pictures of thousands of people fleeing; displaced from homes that are rubble, separated from loved ones and women and girls in fear of being raped with no safe place to go.
Many are targeted because of their religion, many have no idea where they will rest their heads or get a bite of food or a drink of water.
I will never forget what one of them said to me. “Why is it,” she said, “that people in Scotland are always grumbling?
“Don’t they know they’ve got heaven on earth? They’ve got water, food, roofs over their heads, free education and health care. They are safe and secure. I can’t understand it.”
Neither can I.
I read in a business paper very recently a comment from a Chinese investor from Taiwan who said that Asian investors are flabbergasted by the sight of an ancient and successful union tearing itself apart for no apparent reason. He thought it bizarre.
Many and varied are the criticisms made of the United Kingdom by “yes” voters. Constructive criticism is good. Destruction benefits no one.
Every time we vote there is a moment, before we put a cross on paper, when we check in our minds if we are sure what we are doing.
To “yes” voters I would say: “Just pause and think. Do you really want to destroy something that, whatever it’s imperfections, has worked so well for our united nations for more than 300 years?”
Our United Kingdom is really the envy of the world. As a Scot, I love my country too much to want it to be separated from the rest of the United Kingdom.
Use your heads. Vote “no”.
Jeanette Guy. Crawley House, Springfield, Cupar.
The promise of powers, but…
Sir, With all these last-gasp, cobbled-together promises of greater powers for Scotland (G Brown et al), there is absolutely no mention of what they are going to do about the financial corruption at Westminster an institution which would (under their plans) continue to take major decisions affecting us.
In the past few years we have had cash for access scandals, cash for questions scandals, cash for honours, and cash for political positions. Plus the MPs’ expenses scandal. Plus lobbyists swarming all over the place. Plus the infiltration of the civil service by corporate interests, whereby certain civil servants structure government policy to suit certain companies, by whom they are subsequently employed by at vast salaries.
Meanwhile, as revealed about two months ago, very large sums are being donated to the Tory Party at special events by wealthy individuals and corporations, all of whom will be expecting influence for their money (possibly getting the government to go light on tax avoidance).
It’s not just the NHS which is getting privatised down south, it’s politics itself . . . where influence can be bought for cash. And once an institution loses its integrity to this extent, it’s almost impossible for it to be recovered.
Alan Lawson. 1 Albany Road, West Ferry, Dundee.
Let down by a poor campaign
Sir, With the increase of the “yes” vote shown in recent polls, this in part does not surprise me given how active the Yes campaign has been with a very visible presence on High Streets and through posters and leaflets. In contrast, the Better Together Campaign in my area (Perth) has been appalling.
They have a stall once a week where at present the Yes campaign have a stall every day, and I have only seen one leaflet. In all honesty I believe the Better Together campaign have let down “no” voters like myself by their lackadaisical approach, disorganised working methods and an appalling lack of visibility in comparison to the Yes campaign.
Should, God forbid, we get a “yes” vote then the Better Together campaign are partly responsible for their disorganised and invisible presence.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth. Perth.