Give us a break

I AM beginning to think that, despite their protestations to the contrary, David Cameron and George Osborne would be delighted if the Scots opted for independence.

They surely must be aware that, with every new threat that they make, such as the enforced demise of the Scottish banknote, more and more people are driven into the Yes camp.

David Hamill

Preston Road

East Linton

What a great idea from Lord John Kilclooney (Letters, 13 January). When Scotland gets her independence, what about a bit of partition?

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This might be popular here in the Kingdom of Fife. We could choose our own king or queen, or perhaps, if Labour was in charge, our president.

Possible candidates might be Gordon Brown, Menzies Campbell and Tommy Sheridan. The mind boggles. Hopefully Westminster wouldn’t try to dictate the timing or wording in the Fife referendum.

David Todd

Woodmill Crescent

Dunfermline

Perhaps it might massage some egos if we were to call the United Kingdom the United Kingdoms – after all, Fife is a Kingdom and might just seek to go its own way.

That apart, belonging as I do to the endangered part of the species, may I ask if I will need a passport to visit my grandchildren in York? Will there be long queues at Border crossings, customs and immigration?

Will the people of Berwick-on-Tweed have a say in rejoining Scotland? I think we should be told!

George Cooper

Westgate

Leslie, Fife

One thing to note about events in the recent week or so is that when challenged by the Prime Minister, the First Minister quickly came up with a referendum date. A lesson to be learned here?

William Ballantine

Dean Road

Bo’ness, West Lothian

Brian Allan (Letters, 12 January) wants to avoid folk voting with their hearts on the topic of independence.

I think it was Robert Burns who wrote: “The hairt’s aye, the pairt aye, that maks ye richt or wrang” (The heart is always the part that makes you right or wrong).

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Be that as it may, if we need a body to supervise the referendum and some are suspicious of a body created by either the UK or the Scottish Government, could we ask an outside body to help?

The United Nations? Arab League? Organisation of African Unity?

Switzerland might be able to offer helpful advice.

David Stevenson

Blacket Place

Edinburgh

George Kerevan writes that the British state was “designed to run a colonial empire” (Perspective, 13 January).

I very much doubt if the British state was ever designed for anything. Its birth was reactive, not proactive.

It came about when there was panic within the English establishment that Scotland might renew alliances with its bitter enemy, France.

Wars have sustained this state in existence; wars with France in the 19th century and wars with Germany in the 20th.

Its demise really is long since overdue.

Alan Clayton

Letters Way

Strachur, Argyll