Older and bolder

I AM writing to comment on an article by Kate Higgins (Perspective, 14 July) in which she indicated that the Yes campaign has some way to go to convince older people to vote for independence.

Ms Higgins made some interesting points about how our fear of change can become more entrenched as we grow older.

Another commentator expressed the rather simplistic view that the independence campaign will be decided on the basis of class but, as a keen reader of The Scotsman’s letters pages, this assertion does not seem to be borne out by the profile of letters from readers supporting both Yes and No – shades of the French Revolution.

Both sides of the debate write with great conviction. The Scottish No voters have a great affection for Great Britain and appear to feel as British as Scottish.

It is impossible to gauge and it would be impertinent to assume who, among the contributors from either side, can feel comfortably inured to the effects of continued austerity in the event of a No vote.

However (and I admit to a bias), the letters from the Yes voters seem to take a more encompassing view of the needs of all sections of our communities.

The Scots among them appear to feel more Scottish than British and, while we can only guess at the age of the writers of both groups, the Yes supporters just seem, well, a bit more modern in their thinking.

It has also been said elsewhere in the campaign that women are more cautious when it comes to making decisions that involve radical change.

Personally, I find that patronising. However, in returning to Kate Higgins’ earlier theme, I have to say that there can’t be many mothers or grandmothers who would wilfully vote Yes if they thought that independence would have a negative effect in the future for their family.

Gill Turner

Derby Street

Edinburgh