Sir, In her analysis of the referendum campaign, Jenny Marra disparagingly suggests that because so many Dundonians were scunnered at not having a job, they turned to the ideology of nationalism in last Thursday’s vote; as if they were errant schoolchildren who couldn’t be expected to know any better, straying from the Labour fold of pure, undiluted socialism!
Since the referendum campaign began we have seen exactly what Labour stands for and it is certainly not socialism. Instead, the Labour party advocates squandering billions of pounds on Trident weapons of mass destruction, continues to reward the party’s elder statesmen by sending them to a warm bench in the undemocratic House of Lords and was happy to take the UK into an illegal war as soon as the US pulled the strings.
Ms Marra is clearly out of touch with the aspirations of her fellow Dundonians. The Yes campaign is not about the SNP and what we voted for on Thursday was not the ideology of nationalism but something known as democracy. Dundonians, Glaswegians and all the other Yes voters want to get the government that the majority of them vote for. At the moment, the Tory government can happily ignore Scotland because we send only a single Conservative MP to Westminster.
Yes voters want their elected representatives to be accountable. When politicians are accountable they have to listen to the people they represent.
Only when politicians begin to listen will we be able to tackle the scourge of worklessness that Ms Marra so abhors.
It is regrettable that, throughout the referendum campaign, Ms Marra and her Labour colleagues stood shoulder to shoulder with the Tories to thwart the desire of people in Whitfield, Kirkton and elsewhere to have greater control over their own affairs and end up with the government that they voted for.
Alan Woodcock. 23 Osborne Place, Dundee.
Strike action may yet come
Sir, May I use an analogy by looking at Scotland today as a large factory with a considerable workforce.
Half of the staff are discontented, disillusioned and ready to walk out of the gate. However, last-minute negotiations have proved successful and a strike was prevented.
I wonder if the management board are completely aware of all the causes of discontent; if not, I hope they will delve into these matters to discover what these deep-rooted problems are and really strive to rectify things before there is a reoccurrence, which next time may not be resolved with sweet talking.
The workforce have already been promised sweeping changes but yet, at the moment, we have no idea what these are.
May I suggest to the Westminster board of directors that major changes to improve not just working conditions but closer links and ties with the men and women on the factory floor be implemented, and implemented now.
I still need to be convinced all the hot air generated over the last few months can be converted into real energy, to turn this tide of unrest into a real and positive future for all. We will wait and see.
Ron Blanchard. 177 Kinghorn Road, Burntisland.
PM’s tactics win campaign
Sir, In a campaign that looked so simple but was, in fact, full of complexity and strewn with banana skins, David Cameron proved himself an accomplished political tactician.
He refused to put devo-max on the ballot, which would, in my opinion, have split the amorphous no vote, leaving the field to Alex Salmond’s disciplined brigades.
Gordon Brown, saviour of the world, made a late entry, allegedly to save Britain but, in fact, to railroad Mr Cameron into a version of devo-max favouring Labour.
The prime minister is too smart for that and the Scots may get devo-max but it will probably involve binning the Barnett formula while the English finally get a parliament of their own.
The consensus is that he “lost” the referendum; nonsense Alex Salmond lost and the lecture circuit beckons but the real loser is Ed Miliband, whose days as Labour leader are numbered.
Rev Dr John Cameron. 10 Howard Place, St Andrews.
We’re changing for the better
Sir, After a gruelling campaign, we now know Scotland will remain an integral part of the UK family of nations and has rejected cutting the ties which have stood us in such good stead for many, many years. The campaign has had many positive features, not least in engaging huge numbers of people who have not normally been involved in politics, thereby strengthening the democratic process and community involvement.
The objective of both campaigns was exactly the same: to provide a better future for Scotland. However, we will all be aware of the different proposals as to how that can be achieved.
Now that the referendum is over, I am confident that both sides will work together to achieve the proposed additional powers for Scotland within the set timescale.
I will do my best to ensure that these powers are put in place as quickly as possible and look forward to working with all those who have Scotland’s best interests at heart.
Scotland is changing and changing for the better. It is up to all of us now to show that, by working together, we really can make a difference and ensure that the future for this and future generations is a bright one.
Lindsay Roy. MP for Glenrothes and Central Fife.
On preventing personation
Sir, Saturday’s Courier carried letters concerning the franchise for the referendum.
One reader complained about the recording of the numbers on the register and the ballot paper. That has always been the case, so personation fraud at the point of voting can be traced if necessary, and it does indeed mean that a particular vote could be traced.
That would appear to work against the secrecy of the ballot, but does that democratic principle really hold today, when absent votes can be had on request and families and other groups can therefore be dictated to by whichever strong personality has access to the elector?
Another correspondent regretted the less-than-90% turnout, but a complete 100% vote is not possible. The register is compiled in October and contains names which were entered 11 months ago.
A percentage of those registered electors will have died in the interim. Also, on referendum day, I was in Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital and saw how many late, emergency admissions took place. No vote for those folks.
There were also old and otherwise disabled folks who did not get to the poll through not having understood the absent and proxy voting procedures.
James Thomson. 14 Vardon Drive, Glenrothes.
“Tricked” claim is insult to public
Sir, We had to endure two very long years of campaigning before David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Gordon Brown decided to “save the union” and the support for Alex Salmond’s side of the argument grew after they did so. The polls strongly suggest few, if any, were “tricked” by three politicians who have an established history to justify deep suspicion.
That “manifesto pledges are not subject to legitimate expectation” is attributed to Gordon Brown in court records speaks very clearly as to how much faith we might place in his promise. Mr Cameron’s history on the EU and Mr Miliband’s energy policy in office, and consequently higher living costs, are clear indications of how much trust to put in them.
Scottish voters were required to vote on just one proposal, which was not for more powers for the Scottish Parliament, and the decision was very clear.
Mr Salmond is not just insulting those who rejected his proposal, he is insulting everyone who believes in democracy and what voting represents. Such open contempt for the public from a public servant is completely unacceptable.
Hamish Hossick. 3 Avondale Terrace, Broughty Ferry.
Not now but one day
Sir, The vote was fair and the miscount conspiracy theory is a nonsense.
The campaign started as an all or nothing choice (independence or status quo) before last-minute possibly/maybe promises were put forward, which not surprisingly swayed a significant number of undecided voters.
Human nature is such that, of course, the prospect of change is daunting and for many people the notion of sticking with what we already know, with these additional, last-ditch promises, might not necessarily be better but it might be safer … better the devil we know. These promises are already being diluted and the chance of them being honoured now looks less likely by the day.
The vote has maybe shown that the move towards independence is still seen as a leap too far for some people rather than a manageable step, but the evidence is that an ever-increasing number of people believe Scotland can and should manage its own affairs. Had the question been something like ‘Should Scotland be given significantly more autonomy and decision-making powers over its own affairs and use of its resources’, I have no doubt the result would have been an absolutely resounding yes.
Personally, I admire the man but Alex Salmond has been described as a Marmite leader (love or hate), and it sounds as if many voters decided no because of “Smart Alex”.
Of course, the outcome of the vote is important but the significance of the awakening of Scottish people’s interest in their country’s governance has been amazing.
I see a very different future for Scots involvement in politics and I hope there will be further changes to the subservient relationship Scotland has endured with Westminster for many years.
Graham Haddow. Gray Cottage, 23 Church Road, Liff.