Disbanding the Union is not the answer

Do all the individuals who wish to see an independent Scotland really feel that the only way to deal with the myriad issues in Scotland and Britain can be dealt with by disbanding the Union? Has it really been that bad?

Do you genuinely feel that you are merely a province of the English “inner empire”?

Am I really expected to believe that if the trinity of SNP grievances – Westminster, Trident and the Iraq war – could be wiped from history, I would be living in a political and social utopia?

That the only thing holding me back from living a fulfilling life in Scotland is the corruption of the current political system based in London and a historic union dating from 1707?

Personally, I don’t feel like this at all. I am a citizen of the United Kingdom with freedom of worship, speech, association and expression. I have shared a common culture and history with the English, Irish and Welsh since even before the Act of Union.

In the current globalised world, the idea that one of the most prosperous and relatively influential states in the world could break down into its constituent nations seems preposterous, and even more so considering the issue was settled less than a year ago.

David Bone

Ailsa Street West

Girvan, South Ayrshire

As an Englishman living in Northumberland, I have a question for your Scottish readers: what advantages do they see for me in the event of Scotland becoming independent? I see many disadvantages to the “Rest of UK” of Scottish independence; an emotive one being the name by which it shall be known.

Others would be belonging to a country of smaller population, economy, military strength and influence than previously.

In the event of one of us not being in the European Union I can only guess at the feelings of the citizens of Cornhill, Berwick-on-Tweed and other Borderers of an international boundary being created between us. Can your readers suggest any advantages to the English of Scottish independence?

JR Shaw

Morpeth

Northumberland

In his shrewd and sharp
response to my letter (6 
August), Alexander McKay (Letters, 7 August) nevertheless nitpicks and in his 
devotion to the Union puts trees again in the way of
the wood, ie encourages us not to see the wood for the trees.

The raison d’etre of the SNP is for Scotland to resume being a self-governing nation – monarchical or republican irrespective; it is the 1707 Union of Parliaments that is the subject of challenge, not the Union of the Crowns 1603.

As seen by the majority of Scots at the time, the Union was a sell-out, but the monarchical fusion, to coin a phrase, was a different kettle of fish.

In fact, it could well be said that there were, and are, two separate strands of 
consequences and everything else about the two 
separate Union events of Crowns and Parliaments, which have awkwardly co-existed in terms of 
popular history of Scotland-England relations ever
since.

I think there is a subtlety about the differences of the two histories (though more often singularised as one history) that invites a deeper study and exposition than a letter to the papers.

However, until there is
recognition of the possibility of disparateness of the Crowns and Parliaments events, a letter will do.

Ian Johnstone

Forman Drive

Peterhead