Sir, Independence for Scotland is a means, not an end in itself.
For me, and I am sure many others, it was a means to achieve a fairer society. It was a means to save the National Health Service from privatisation, avoid and reverse the hateful attacks on the poorest in society and to gain a government that is more representative of Scotland.
Sadly, having lost the vote, it means that we will have to find another way to achieve these ends.
Rather than fighting lost battles and seeking to blame others (Gordon Brown, the BBC and the misguided Labour Party) for the defeat we must focus on the real culprits (Tories and the Lib Dems).
It is they who have caused and perpetuate the real injustices in society. To continue to blame others for the referendum defeat is a waste of time and energy and increases the chances of those who have caused the problems to remain in power.
There may be an opportunity for an independence vote in the future, but in the mean time we must work to build alliances with those that have similar goals.
I hope that the thousands joining the SNP will be utilised to target those MPs who are part of the current Government.
Let’s make Scotland a Tory and Lib Dem-free zone. That way we will increase bargaining power after the next election to create a fairer more just society in Scotland.
After all, that is why I and many others voted “yes”. It was to achieve these things.
Brian Batson. 7 Lour Road, Forfar.
Highlights the inequality
Sir, Recently we witnessed dramatic falls in London stock market shares when a poll published during the run-up to Scottish referendum gave a small lead to the Yes campaign. Stocks soon recovered when other polls started to show the No campaign resume its lead.
Many who voted “yes” did so because of the inequality that exists between the South East of England and the rest of the UK.
We are now witnessing falls in the stock markets due to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, but this time the markets have little or no control over the situation and that is the difference between this and the referendum dip.
Unfortunately the ebola outbreak and the Scottish referendum do have strikingly similar aspects, that being the difference between the “haves and have nots”, the effects on the stock market and the political requirements of countries.
We will now undoubtedly see those with shares trying their utmost to stem this disease by trying to buy their way out of this situation, a situation that can eventually affect us all, rich or poor, after all, there are “no pockets in shrouds”.
Bob Harper. 63a Pittenweem Road, Anstruther.
Hypocrisy over oil figures
Sir, Dick Winchester’s excellent article in the Energy section (October 7), pointed out in stark language the consequences for Aberdeen and its environs now that a majority of Scots have refused to accept responsibility for running their own affairs.
As he points out, once Westminster has ripped off every last penny from the oil industry it will turn its back on the area and leave it an economic desert blighted by unemployment and falling population.
Some will say those in Aberdeen and the surrounding shire voted “no” and deserve everything that is coming to them. I take the view that they were duped by people like Ian Wood and Mr Winchester is to be congratulated for highlighting the hypocrisy of that man.
It was he (Mr Wood) who, in February this year, published a review stating there were 24 billion barrels of oil still to be extracted from the known North Sea reserves. Shortly before the referendum, this same man claimed only around 16 billion barrels remained and urged a “no” vote.
This in spite of the fact that Westminster had already wasted 40 years of North Sea revenues and would go on to waste those of the next 40 years if we Scots were stupid enough to let them do so.
Jim Duthie. Gray Street, Broughty Ferry.
Must have had some idea . . .
Sir, I have been pipped to the post by Messrs J & D Shaw in their condemnation of the latest ploy by Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and Co to entice more to their side, by “pardoning” the “can but won’t pay” brigade of so long ago.
What I cannot understand is why it takes the inclusion of names on an electoral database in order to identify the defaulters. Surely any local authority must have more than a vague idea of who these people are? If not, what does that say about their accounting systems?
So why have they not been more active in pursuing this criminal debt? It certainly wasn’t in most instances, a case of I can’t afford to pay.
If this underhanded, disgraceful and indecent “cock a snook” move against the law-abiding tax payers goes ahead I am considering joining the “brigade” by withholding my council tax for as long as possible.
I can cancel my direct debit from the comfort of my armchair, certainly until the threat of the bailiffs or court action ensues. That could take some time, but then they have my name and address as a lawful tax payer!
This may be a singular protest, but I can only imagine what would happen if a thousand people did the same for even three months.
Any pauper pleading local authority faced with this action would very rapidly suffer a cash-flow problem and more importantly it would soon become a problem for our wonderful Scottish Government.
Geoff Bray. Letham, Forfar.
Their belief is unshakeable
Sir, Alan Hinnrichs takes issue with my “volcanoes and lack of global warming” letter. My volcanoes information was based on research published by Ian Rutherford Plimer an Australian geologist, professor emeritus of earth science and geology. I would rather believe Professor Plimer than Mr Hinnrichs.
No matter how Mr Hinnrichs tries to wriggle, it was the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which admitted that there was a pause in global warming for 18 years and are frantically trying to come up with an excuse for this.
At present they have 52 excuses ranging from the Chinese burning coal, volcanoes, El Ninos, the climate is less sensitive to CO2 than previously thought and the IPCC computer models are too complex.
If green fundamentalists fervently believe that man-made greenhouse gases control the climate then it does not matter to them what the physical evidence shows.
Clark Cross. 138 Springfield Road, Linlithgow.
Which anthem will they sing?
Sir, Scotland play Georgia this coming Saturday.
Following the referendum result I find myself wondering what national anthem will be played.
Surely the “no” voters have given up the right to ever sing Flower Of Scotland again. I assume that they will choose to sing Jerusalem instead?
Perhaps the diplomatic arrangement would be to allow the “yes” voters to then sing Flower Of Scotland.
Harry Key. 20 Mid Street, Largoward.
Councillor’s commitment
Sir, On May 26 Cara Hilton MSP had a letter published in The Courier. It contained the line, “I made a commitment to the Pitcorthie parents that I would stay as councillor for Dunfermline South until the future of the school is resolved”. She repeated that commitment later in the letter.
Last Thursday (October 2), the policy of Fife Labour to close Pitcorthie Primary School overcame its last hurdle and, sadly, the closure will now happen. How long should we expect to have to wait for Ms Hilton to resign her position as a councillor for Dunfermline South?
Ian Ferguson. 13 Blackwood Way, Dunfermline.