England can gain

I write to express my support for Scottish independence. In expressing my support I am fully aware of my interest in England; my wife and children are
English and I have lived and worked here for 55 years therefore my loyalty to this country is unquestionable.

England is essentially a social democratic country whose soul has been debased by Thatcher and Blair over the last two decades or more so I feel British social democratic traditions can be revived if Scotland becomes independent and a source of inspiration.

Th Labour Party depends on 40 or so MPs who are elected in Scotland more as a matter of habit (it appears now some of them are deserting Labour in favour of Scottish independence).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Further, New Labour has 
abandoned the working classes, both in the UK and Scotland, and therefore cannot lay claim any longer to being a social democratic party.

Doing away with the Scottish representation in the English parliament will cause us to think of our future in the world. I believe it to be a bright one provided we cast aside our imperialistic arrogance.

England can have an enormous influence in the world by confining ourselves to soft power exports. England must engage with the whole world without fear or favour on equal terms.

America always acts in her own self-interest and pretending that we have a special relationship is delusional.

England also stands to gain a lot by disentangling ourselves from the European bureaucracy and engaging ourselves with the world as a whole without any kind of partiality towards Europe.

Sinna Mani

Former Labour mayor of London Borough of Lewisham

Thorpewood Avenue

London

Related topics: