All the options

If Joan McAlpine (Perspective, 25 October) thinks “it’s only fair to have every option on the referendum ballot paper”, then Devo Nuke should be included alongside Devo Max.

Let’s dispense with the pretence of fairness; Devo Max is the reserve policy of the SNP and Alex Salmond wants two bites at the constitutional cherry.

His proverbial greed hands Westminster all the moral, political and legal legitimacy needed to intervene. Scots deserve a straight vote on a clear independence settlement; anything else is action inimical to the interests of our country.

Calum Miller

Polwarth Terrace

Prestonpans, East Lothian

Ben Thomson of Reform Scotland made a valid case for including Devolution Plus as well as full independence and the status quo, as a third option in the forthcoming referendum; and Joan McAlpine says: “It’s only fair to have every option on the ballot paper”, referring to Devo-max

But these would not give us “every option”.

The more radical option would be to include a question on reverting to the status quo ante, by abolishing the Holyrood parliament (solving the West Lothian question at a stroke) and the Cardiff and Belfast assemblies; and to establish greater tax-raising powers in local government throughout the UK to reduce their dependency on central government and to improve local democracy and accountability.

John Birkett

Horseleys Park

St Andrews