Bring on the independence referendum

Five years of SNP rule has reminded me of how much I hate nationalism as a creed. People, with all their multi-faceted characteristics, are reduced to a definition based on nationality. All the aspects which define us as individuals and provide common ground with people far and wide – gender, local and regional identity, profession, political and social attitudes, religion and interests – are minimised in significance compared to the country of birth.

Every issue is approached through the prism of so-called national interest, which too often is the interest of a centralised nation state. History is distorted, myths perpetuated, dissent ridiculed or worse.

The things that set us apart from other people are promoted at the expense of those which unite. So the Gaelic language, with its modern relevance to a tiny proportion of Scots, attains cult status while the common inheritance of Borderers and three centuries of joint imperial history with England are ignored.

This auld Gallovidian, Liberal, fermin wumman – who, incidentally, campaigned hard for a devolved Scottish Parliament – is scunnered. Bring on the referendum: twa mair years of nationalist propaganda shamelessly disseminated through public agency networks is mair than we can thole.

JOAN MITCHELL

Bagbie, Carsluith

Dumfries and Galloway

Ross Finnie’s referendum question (“Do you wish Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom?”, Platform 22 October) not only plays into the hands of the SNP, but is also incompetent.

It suits the SNP to portray Scotland as a downtrodden colony or dominion of Britain, which is what Mr Finnie’s question and your leader imply. In fact, Scotland is one of the founding nations of the UK and separation would mean tearing up the Treaty of Union and the end of the UK altogether.

So, the question needs to be: “Do you wish to see the end of the United Kingdom by separating Scotland from England, Wales and Northern Ireland?”.

I suggest that such an important question should only be asked by Westminster and that a simple majority would not be adequate to bring about such a fundamental change.

STEUART CAMPBELL

Dovecot Loan

Edinburgh

As predictably as night follows day, we are loftily informed by the triumphalist SNP at its conference that Westminster has no say in any referendum plans (your reports, 22 October). And so the party chosen by 20 per cent of the Scottish electorate deems to tell the 80 per cent who chose not to vote for it or for parties representing the retention of the UK that their opinions mean nothing. The tail presumes once again to wag the dog.

It is surely time for Labour to forget minor internal squabbles and posturing and join with the other pro-UK parties in fighting the real enemy of the people of Scotland – those who would destroy a centuries-old, eminently successful Union and drag Scotland into the third world. Deigning not to sit with Conservatives or anyone else in this supreme battle is tantamount to a betrayal of the people of this country.

ALEXANDER McKAY

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh