Vague vows

Lord Smith of Kelvin may regret taking on the task of trying to make sense of the “vow” made by the three main unionist
parties.

My understanding is that, in the view of many supporters of the Union, the UK lacks a single document labelled “the constitution” but also that much of what should be contained in such a document cannot be identified by any government or judicial authority with any certainty.

Many proud defenders of the UK would boast of the benefits of an “unwritten constitution” but they are not rushing to clarify how this major constitutional log-jam can be loosened in time for next May’s Westminster election.

That election – conducted on the “first-past-the-post” system – may well become an undemocratic lottery. Why has the “greatest union in history” landed itself in such a mess?

Robin MacCormick

Dalkeith Road

Edinburgh