Labour missed its chance in Scotland

On a dank, grey Edinburgh day with another harbinger of doom on the front page of The Scotsman, the letters from James Brown and Stan Grodynski (6 March) fair lifted my spirits.

I have previously made the point that letters to The Scotsman often show the conflict between the fear of loss of personal wealth that is evident in contributions from No voters and the more equitable sharing of national wealth which is more apparent in supporters of independence.

However, I have to confess that Messrs Brown and Grodynski made the point with unadorned clarity and courage. The independence campaign needs more of this.

Mr Brown also made the very salient point that No supporters have a tendency to confuse the Yes campaign with the SNP.

Speaking personally, I supported Labour for decades until I despaired of its ability or willingness to create a more just and equal society. This came into sharp relief in the Tony Blair era when power became more important than principle and Labour pinched the Tories’ clothes.

I’m now a member of the SNP, but I would welcome the resurgence of the Labour Party in an independent Scotland – a Labour Party freed from the shackles of Westminster which had returned to its core values when being socialist was not a pejorative term.

Douglas Turner

Derby Street

Edinburgh

James D Brown tells us that he is “insulted when folk ask me if I expect to be better off in an independent Scotland” and that he does not expect to be so.

Mr Brown’s problem is that, on the basis of what has come through my letter box in 
recent weeks, the Yes campaign and the SNP have a much more cynical view of what will motivate the Scottish voter.

They obviously think that the offers of £600 and cheaper overseas holidays will be enough to persuade the required number of voters to vote for independence.

Are these people who are to be so easily seduced going to be willing to surrender these inducements to fund the much more progressive tax regime required to tackle the scandal of inequality? I 
doubt it.

John Milne

Ardgowan Drive

Uddingston

I have just heard the BBC news telling me that EU regulations would cause RBS and TSB – and any other major banks that might be left – to relocate their headquarters out of Scotland come independence. So much for Edinburgh as a major financial centre for the future.

This does beg the question as to what else has not been worked out accurately in the independence wish list.

It would appear that when it comes to believing and/or accepting our politicians’ assurances, we can no longer bank upon them having been properly considered.

What, I can but wonder, will be the next rabbit and from which hat might it appear?

David Gerrard

Spylaw Park

Edinburgh

There is much talk around major employers moving to England in the event of a vote for separation. What will be the position on the corporate tax take for Scotland in the event that companies are domiciled in England rather than Scotland?

Does this mean that Scotland’s public finances will be devastatingly lower than predicted?

Jimmy Armstrong

Abergeldie Road

Ballater