Adopting a grown-up stance on independence

In advocating home rule, Henry McLeish (Perspective, 28 January) suggested a failure to consider such an alternative would be “a constitutional and political outrage”. Voters should be “treated like grown-ups”, according to the former first minister.

But if we want to be treated like grown-ups, then we have to accept the responsibilities that go along with adulthood. Scotland is a part of the UK. Up until now, the UK government has been surprisingly deferent on the issue of the referendum, leaving Holyrood to go about the business of organising the vote. In legal terms, we have no right to expect this – the Scottish Parliament can only act on matters devolved to it by the UK parliament. These matters do not include questions regarding our constitutional future.

However, when decisions are made that affect all parts of the UK, not just Scotland, every citizen has a right to be consulted, regardless of where they live. It should be no surprise then, to find Westminster asserting that any prospect of further devolution (as opposed to independence) is an issue for the UK parliament, not its Scottish counterpart. Fiscal autonomy, for example, is the sort of change that would carry significant financial consequences for the whole of the UK. Can we really be shocked that Cameron and Co are finally sticking their noses in?

As things stand, we in Scotland will be granted a very clear choice: do we want to become an independent country, in which case we would be free to make decisions for and by ourselves, or do we want to remain a part of the UK, in which case we would have the responsibility to adhere to the rules which govern the Union? That is the question the ballot paper on independence should ask. No more, no less. As for the rest, we have asked to be treated as adults, so let’s behave like adults as well.

Alain Traill

Otago Street

Glasgow