Attempts to limit democracy misplaced

It is interesting that those who in 2014 sought to deviously undermine the arguments for Scotland’s independence by scurrilously associating them with their own perceived evils of “nationalism” now appear to be coming together to aggressively defend “British nationalism” in 2015.

Not content with slanted history books, strong bias within the mainstream media and the pervasive influence of “the self-serving establishment”, there are those, as evidenced in recent letters to The Scotsman, who would portray attempts to correct misleading information in the press as threatening democracy and even “sedition” (Dr Roger Cartwright, Letters, 24 December).

While a debate between the First Minister and the Prime Minister was denied in the lead up to the Scottish referendum, it appears that Ukip will be afforded the privilege of participation in a UK-wide TV debate in the lead up to 
the forthcoming general election – however, the SNP will not.

Yet Donald Lewis (Letters, 30 December) would seek even further controls over audiences involved in TV 
debates so that the voices of independence are further 
subdued.

David Hollingdale (Letters, 24 December) expressed the view that those, such as myself, who have written letters to newspapers in support of Scotland’s independence, should be limited to 150 words, while David Allan (Letters, 30 December) clearly wishes to deny the Scottish people another referendum regardless of the view of the majority of the electorate in the future.

Should concern for democracy be truly at the heart of recent letters by the above scribes, one wonders why these gentlemen are not clamouring for the end of unelected representation in the House of Lords and adoption of proportional representation for the House of Commons, instead of attacking those who seek significant reform of our long-outdated and failing constitutional structure?

Stan Grodynski

Longniddry

East Lothian