English denied a say in referendum

Published on 16/09/2012 00:00

AS AN Englishman I was 
going to join in comments that followed Eddie Barnes’ article “Gloves off in big decider” (Insight, 9 September), then I thought: no, it’s turning into a farce. We English seem to be the villains of the piece again, even though we are never allowed a say in devolution. Scotland had two referendums and wants another, while we were denied any vote.

Now it is clear you will get a referendum in 2014, and yet the SNP wants a second option for devo-max. Haven’t the SNP always been in favour of independence from we wicked English, who are never allowed a vote, which is strange because more people in England want an independent Scotland than Scots in Scotland.

If “call me Dave” caves in to Alex Salmond’s demands and Scots get the devo-max option, I will lodge a claim with the European Court of Human Rights. My case would be that a constituent country within a union of countries is being given the chance to establish lower corporation tax than the other countries, a lower personal tax and doing away 
with any sort of wage control, taking investment and jobs from those other countries.

Stuart Eels, Chippenham

YOUR Insight column (9 September) confirms to me that everyone has now said just about all they can say about the independence referendum, and that political analysis is merely going round in circles among media commentators.

At best, the issue has stagnated political debate in Scotland, with everything seemingly now being dependent on this. It is the answer to 
any question that we might care to ask, and too many people have been taken in and fascinated by it all. At worst, it has poisoned relations within this country, and we will struggle to recover from that.

It is time to confront the issue. Gordon Brown was destroyed as prime minister in 2007 for prevaricating over not calling an early election. Why is the media in Scotland so charitable with Alex Salmond and all his hesitations? We need to get on with this now and clear the air, and we definitely do not need it deliberately crashed into the courts as one of the First Minister’s colleagues is implying. Any nonsense like that and the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State will have to act.

Victor Clements, Aberfeldy