Sir, The question: “If we are going to be better together, why aren’t we better together now?” certainly poses problems for the No Campaign.
Saving the “Scottish banks” as an answer won’t wash as more than 90% of their business was based in England or abroad.
The fact is that some places are, in Orwellian terms, “more better together” than others and the “most better together” place is unquestionably London.
London sucks the rest of the country dry like an omnipotent Hoover leaving Scotland in particular with nothing but Trident and crumbs.
It is the sacred cow, where the Jubilee line, for example was allowed to go £1.6 billion over budget, (enough for four of the much-maligned Scottish Parliament).
If you wish to progress in the Civil Service, you must go south to seek promotion and even water from the Welsh mountains is siphoned off to slake the thirst of those on the House of Lords gravy train, when they’re not on Dom Perignon.
We are not better together now in Scotland because we are constantly outvoted and industries such as fishing are sacrificed readily when it is perceived to be politically expedient.
September 18 is a “penalty kick” for Scotland. We mustn’t miss it!
Joseph G Miller. 44 Gardeners Street, Dunfermline.
Example of Yes camp’s just and fair society?
Sir, In Montrose on Wednesday I watched in horror as the Yes supporting bullies harassed and abused Jim Murphy of the No campaign and other (male and female) members of the public, preventing us from hearing Mr Murphy or asking questions.
This was clearly an organised heckling and, I fear, not just an isolated incident. This is our referendum to decide our future and our children’s future, not just the SNP’s. We are entitled to hear both sides.
Considering how the leaders of the Yes campaign have behaved, it is sadly unsurprising that their supporters are reflecting this behaviour of shouting people down who don’t agree with them.
Is this an example of the Yes campaign’s fair and just society?
Shameful!
Peter Flanagan. 1 Aulton Way, Montrose.
Turning point, but who for?
Sir, Now that Gordon Brown has entered the fray on the side of his great nemesis Alistair Darling will this be the turning point in the great debate? If so, who for?
I find it pretty much unbelievable that these two have the audacity to lecture anyone on the economy.
I am not an advocate of television debates but Mr Darling’s performance and total mauling by Alex Salmond must have been worse than I thought if Gordon Brown is having to save him.
My ghast has been totally flabbered that these two Labour politicians can even have the nerve to lecture others on economics or monetary policies after the destruction to ordinary people’s lives that their incompetence caused.
Could it be that their defence of the union is based on their own personal positions and wealth (as many others in the NO campaign are) is based on being part of an elite British establishment that looks after its own?
These two and many others were quite happy to watch ordinary public sector workers, to name but a few, see their pensions cut, pay more and work longer to get them. As the great bard said: “A parcel of rogues in a nation.”
Bryan Auchterlonie. Bluebell Cottage, Ardargie.
Will our money be rejected?
Sir, Many years ago when touring The Isle Of Man we noticed that some small shops and a chip shop displayed the following notice: “We do not accept Irish Punts.”
After independence, is this going to be the case in English shops when the Scottish pound is presented?
On our Scottish notes there is a promise to pay, will the issuing bank be forced to hold collateral to cover this and in what form will it be, gold or pound coins?
In future will we have to purchase coins from the mint and how will we pay for them?
Alan T Law. Blairfield, 1 Grey Street, Tayport.
A childish level of debating
Sir, The Alex Salmond – Alistair Darling televised debate has been described as ill-tempered, a “stairhead rammy” and “a fierce debate which provided lots of heat, but little light on the indy referendum debate”.
It was none of these things.
The confrontational style evinced by both participants was sparked into contemporary politics by Johan Lamont’s childish reaction to the powerful arguments being put forwarded by Nicola Sturgeon in earlier TV referendum debates.
We all used to do it in the school playground, didn’t we? Somebody saying things you don’t want to hear? Simple. Stick your fingers in your ears and sing “na-na-nana-na”, or make a lot of meaningless noise. It needn’t make sense, its only function is to create a wall of sound that drowns out your opponent.
Johan Lamont’s tactics were immediately copied by Alistair Carmichael and now Alistair Darling. I expect it to be used extensively by the No campaign from now on.
What does an otherwise sensible debater do when confronted with this infantile behaviour? There is only one effective response; do it back. Therein lies the reason why TV debates are descending to a childish level. It’s a sure sign one of the debaters knows they are being outclassed.
The problem for Darling, Carmichael, Lamont et al is that today’s voters aren’t as nave as they think. Alistair Darling’s lack of skill, confidence or ability to respond to Alex Salmond’s reasoned arguments will have been noted by all who watched.
Steady progress towards a “yes” vote continues.
Bob Kirk. 40 Torbain, Kirkcaldy.
They promised to support
Sir, I must say I feel extremely concerned regarding some of the statements from the No camp regarding what Scotland may have to sacrifice in the event of a “yes” vote including the possibility our surplus electricity may no longer be accepted south of the border and even our oil supplies being boycotted.
Is this just bluff?
I don’t think so as is proven by the threat that naval shipbuilding and refitting will possibly be taken from us and moved elsewhere. Shipbuilding and refitting is still the lifeblood of the Clyde and Rosyth so this threat is very real.
However, when I see that the new fleet oil tankers for the Royal Navy have been ordered and now the first keel laid, I say great news and good not only for Scotland but Britain as a whole that the government can still support what is left of our shipbuilding industry.
But then, good grief! I see that they are all to be built in South Korea. What happened to the government’s promise to support home industry?
Ron Blanchard. 177 Kinghorn Road, Burntisland.
Need to be more visible
Sir, I wish to express my concern that this week has been a particularly bad week for the Better Together campaign.
Firstly with the very obviously biased in favour of the Yes campaign TV debate on Monday if you could call it a debate. It was more like a debacle.
Secondly, in my home city of Perth the Better Together campaign seems to have gone into retreat. For three consecutive days the Yes campaign have been out in force while the Better Together campaign have been nowhere to be seen.
This is giving the Yes campaign a clear opportunity to persuade undecided voters with their rhetoric.
This is a serious concern and it is unacceptable.
For several months I have genuinely felt that the Better Together campaign is not nearly visible enough, shawdy, disorganised and complacent.
In the run-up to the referendum I would urge the campaigners to “get visible” as the future of generations of Scots are in your hands.
This is certainly no time for complacency.
Gordon Kennedy. 117 Simpson Square, Perth.