Letter: Lib Dem bushel

Peter Jones ("Lib Dems have missed a trick on gain in federalism", 8 March) remarks on the curious silence from the Liberal Democrats about their success in moving Scotland a tiny bit closer to a "quasi-federal Britain" by the Calman process.

In my youth, I remember many Liberal activists being avid "home rulers", though "home rule" could stretch from the sort of "English parish council" imagined by Tony Blair to full-blooded independence. Where are such enthusiasts now? Peter Jones might also have pointed out the Lib Dem failure to trumpet their part in the momentous introduction of single transferable voting for Scottish local elections in 2007, changing the face of councils throughout the land.

The Lib Dems must have played a big part in persuading Labour, their senior partners in the last coalition government of Scotland, to legislate such a major reform but they seem fearful to admit this success too.

Robin MacCormick

Dalkeith Road

Edinburgh