Sir, For weeks we have seen unionists and many others decrying independence on these pages for a variety of reasons. Warnings from the SNP and “Yes” campaigners over the impending privatisation of the English National Health Service have been laughed at and ridiculed. We were bigger scaremongers than “Project Fear”.
Now a major English daily newspaper has exposed that every part of the NHS is being put out to private tender. New rules will include compulsory competitive markets on the whole NHS to start from April 1. This will allow firms to asset strip the NHS facilities by, for instance, cherry-picking the easiest procedures leaving the NHS to pay for the difficult expensive surgery.
So, now, not only is the UK Government a government who we Scots didn’t vote for, but they are a government that, strictly speaking, the rest of the UK didn’t vote for either.
Not only that but they are implementing a policy by stealth to undermine and belittle a UK national treasure without so much as a mention in either the Liberal or Conservative manifesto.
So, I’m interested as to what unionists have to say to that? Will we still be better together? Do the unionist Scots realise that if they vote “no” they are almost certainly going to lose their NHS too?
Alongside that, losing the pound would be the least of our worries don’t you think?
Brian Macfarlane. 10 Beck Crescent, Dunfermline.
No need to go as far as break-up of the UK
Sir, Having endured another of the BBC’s dreadful, soi-disant “debates” on the break-up of the UK, I despair of any worthwhile discourse taking place on this subject ahead of the referendum.
The debate, in general, has been reduced to voting on the basis of an overheated disdain for English Conservatives, and most recently, has become bogged down in claim and counter-claim on the impartiality, or otherwise, of the BBC.
Somehow, the burden of proof has fallen on those who wish to maintain the UK, instead of where it should lie, with those who wish Scotland to secede from that structure.
While I readily concede that there is much about the governance of the UK that needs to be overhauled, I fail to see that there is any need to go as far as to break it up.
To my mind the case is not being made for secession I do not acknowledge the term “independence” as I do not consider Scotland to be a dependency and feel that to do so, demeans us and surely the solution does not lie in running away.
It is for the secessionist tendency to make their case, and for those who oppose it to be allowed to rebut, without those rebuttals being prefaced by the now trademark condescending chortle of SNP speakers or the continual resort to snide comments which detract from any substance that there may be in secessionists’ statements.
John McNab. 11 Balgeddie Court, Glenrothes.
Stand by our own views
Sir, I agree most heartedly with David Thomson’s letter in Wednesday’s Courier and would even go so far as to add to his arguments to leave the Crimeans to resolve their own destiny, which to my mind they have accomplished very expeditiously.
Who are we to dictate to Russia on what they should, or should not be doing in this situation and for Britain to insist upon sanctions, which as Mr Thomson states could have severe repercussions for ourselves taking into account that the Ukraine is the bread basket of Europe and controls much of the gas that reaches our shores.
Britain still hangs on to its old imperial past tooth and nail by spending vast amounts of not only money but human lives to protect our so-called interests in Gibraltar and the Falkland Islands to name only two, yet we still oppose this bloodless and well-organised, but maybe hasty referendum.
We have to understand that Britain is no longer a world power and it is high time we stood by our own views and not just support our big brother across the pond.
Ron Blanchard. 177 Kinghorn Road, Burntisland.
A masterly strategy
Sir, When the cold war was over, our defences were more or less scrapped to save money. “Not needed” said our wise politicians.
But suddenly the Bear awakened from its slumber and stretched a leg, leaving us with William Hague and Baroness Ashton to wag their fingers and threaten sanctions against the second most powerful nation in the world, that also now happens to supply much of our gas and oil. Such masterly strategy.
Malcolm Parkin. 15 Gamekeepers Road, Kinnesswood, Kinross.
SYP voice of the young
Sir, As a member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (SYP) for Dundee City West, I am writing this letter to raise awareness of the work that young people, such as myself, are taking on as part of our roles on the youth parliament.
One of the SYP’s current projects, Aye Naw Mibbe, is designed to increase young voter engagement levels by ensuring young people have access to impartial information, such as how to register to vote.
The SYP is holding its first national sitting of 2014 on March 22 and 23 in Stirling and it will be a great opportunity to present the views of the young people of Dundee to the SYP membership. I would encourage others to get involved with the SYP’s work.
Melissa Gorman. Scottish Youth Parliament, Edinburgh.