Critical question

It is no great surprise to read that Andrew HN Gray (Letters, 5 September) would like to 
categorise all SNP supporters, as well as other supporters of independence, as “blinkered” dreamers who are “uncritical” in their pursuit of “a better tomorrow”.

If this were actually true, it would indeed allow Mr Gray, as well as others seeking to apply simplistic labels, to continue avoiding serious debate about substantive issues while 
wallowing in their own self-
importance.

Unfortunately for Mr Gray, most supporters of independence are only too well aware that even after a Yes vote there will be a lot of work to be done 
before the people of Scotland have full democratic control over their own destiny.

Control, however, does not guarantee success, but like many other Scots I am confident that in the longer term the majority of the people of this country will have better prospects of achieving their ambitions in a country independent of the political and economic objectives of a 
Westminster government.

In fact, when one looks at 
the extent of the debt the UK 
has amassed and the increasing disparity of the fortunes of the rich and the poor, one has to wonder whether it is the supporters of independence who should be categorised as 
uncritical.

Perhaps Mr Gray would have been more accurate to write: “The real crime is that they 
actually allow the British Empire to persist in their own, uncritical minds.”

Stan Grodynski

Longniddry

East Lothian

Alex Orr (Letters, 4 September) says that those who want to be British will be able to say so, “post-independence”.

I wonder if there were people like Mr Orr in Ireland, back in the 1920s, talking about how – and I quote – “No one is preventing those [in Ireland] who want to call themselves British post-independence from doing so”, or that “the social union between [Ireland] and England will remain as strong as ever” or that “[Ireland] will geographically 
remain part of the British Isles”.

If there were such people, it is probably fair to say that time has proven all three of their assurances to be somewhat debatable.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed.

Alistair McConnachie

Bath Street

Glasgow

The news that the number of people, including those in work, are relying on food handouts (your report, 4 September) is a disgrace in 21st-century Scotland.

If anything highlights the 
failure of the Union and the wasted policies from Westminster, then surely this must be it.

While Labour is out campaigning with the Tories to keep this state of affairs, surely the only solution for Europe’s 
largest exporter of oil is 
independence.

Kenny MacLaren

Avondale Drive

Paisley