Federal fantasy

Brian Monteith (Perspective, 30 June) and sundry Tories and Liberal Democrats are being slyly cynical to pump up a federal “solution” for this Disunited Kingdom at this stage of the game.

I do not recall them protesting much when the British government refused to allow a second question – the devo-max option – on the referendum ballot.

That the SNP was willing to have it, even in the knowledge that it might trump straight independence, I have always thought showed courage and integrity. I do hope voters will bear in mind that David Cameron has gambled the house on the status quo, warts and all, versus independence, with its opportunity for a radically better Scotland.

Federal pipe dreams will take many years, if ever, to mature. Scotland cannot wait.

David Roche

Alder Grove

Scone

The Conservative Party in Westminster favours “first past the post” voting. This is made clear by its opposition to the recent attempt by the Liberal Democrats to make the system more proportional. The result is to maintain a confrontational style of debate.

By the decision of David Cameron to remove the second question from the Scottish independence referendum, namely for an intermediate settlement, this confrontational style has been transferred into the Scottish political debate.

If there were another option to Yes or No the sting would be drawn from the decision. This option, as is well known, was the publicly preferred decision and would have introduced a degree of proportionality.

Thus it is baffling to note the late conversion of Tory protagonists such as Murdo Fraser and the Scotsman’s Brian Monteith arguing at this late stage for federalism. Why did they not shout at the Prime Minister at the appropriate time?

Iain WD Forde

Main Street

Scotlandwell, Kinross-shire