Letter: Lib Dems stand to gain from referendum

The Scottish Liberal Democrats' new leader Willie Rennie can stop the haemorrhage of its modern support by making a clear statement of his party's position on the last point. It is not enough to dismiss the nationalists on the supposed grounds that it wishes to separate Scotland from the UK.

Mr Salmond's address to the Queen last Friday indicates that his party is not ready to sever links with the monarch (as head of the Commonwealth).

It is an autonomous parliament he seeks, able to make its own laws, levy its own taxes, establish its own military and conduct its own foreign policy. That does not mean separation from the rest of the world. It means the freedom to build its own economy and conduct its own foreign policy. This is not inconsistent with the history of the Liberals.

Mr Rennie has the chance to rejuvenate his party by at least stating that it is committed to federalism within the UK. He can strike the right tone on this and see his supporters return. Alternatively, he can whine about separatism, produce no new ideas and see his support melt away.

A strong Scottish Liberal leader might be able to convince his Westminster colleagues of the need for a referendum on independence. Secretary of State Michael Moore wants to see what Mr Salmond proposes. It is incumbent on Mr Rennie to get them to think again.

Scotland could face decades of uncertainty if the whole matter is mishandled by governments on both sides of the Border. The ideal scenario is for both governments to agree the terms on which independence could be granted.

That could then be placed before the Scottish people in a binding referendum. Mr Rennie and the Liberal Democrats have a lot to gain by ensuring it takes place.

Bob Taylor

Shiel Court

Glenrothes, Fife

It is disappointing that Liberal Democrat councillors should jump ship so easily, and it is even worse that they should be encouraging others to do the same (your report, 4 July).

It is true that some of the social democratic policies of the SNP overlap with Liberal Democrat policies, but the SNP is not renowned as a party with particularly liberal views, and we are beginning to see the authoritarian side of Alex Salmond.

Along with many others I am unhappy about some of the actions of the Westminster government. I think, too, that during the last few years the party in Scotland should have been less negative about more powers for Scotland, and should have insisted that the Calman report was more in line with the Steel Commission.However, in my view, the way to change this is to fight from within and not to abandon our fundamental principles of the control of executive power, the belief in creating equal opportunity and the defence of minorities.

No other political party at the moment endorses these principles and certainly not the SNP.

(Dr) C M Corser

Friars Way

Linlithgow