Referendum opponents don't trust voters

Your editorial piece (Opinion, 2March) is correct: Scots do deserve more detail before voting on constitutional change. This is the whole point of holding a referendum on the various options rather than allowing Jim Murphy to push through the ludicrous Calman tax proposals which have been rubbished as unworkable by all serious economists.

If Labour thinks Calman's tax proposals are sane then it should test them in a democratic referendum against devolution max, which is no different from the Liberal Democrats' federal proposals. It seems the London-based parties don't trust Scots to decide.

CALUM STEWART

Montague Street

Edinburgh

Your leader (Opinion, 2 March) included the sweeping assertion that "it is unlikely voters would accept a separate English Parliament".

If you mean English voters, I beg to differ. The British Social Attitudes Survey, the most cautious of any attempt to measure public opinion on this issue, puts support at 29 per cent and on an upward trend. Other polls in recent years have support substantially higher, some in excess of 50 per cent.

As always, the answers are influenced by the way in which the question is put. What is reasonably clear is that offers of greater national self-determination are rarely refused.

A firm proposal for an English Parliament would gain support simply by virtue of being put on the table. If anyone doubts this, let us put it to the test.

Some may remember that the majority for the Welsh Assembly was tiny, with just over 50 per cent of the vote with support from less than 26 per cent of the Welsh electorate. If, on the other hand, you mean Scottish voters, you may be right.

However, the re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament was accounted no business of the English.

An English Parliament is no business of the Scots.

JAMES MATTHEWS

Great North Road

London

Your assertion (Opinion, 2 March) rests on the flimsiest of foundations: the result of a survey carried out by a single organisation which surveys the whole of Britain.

How can anyone possibly know what the people of England want unless they are given the opportunity as the Scots were to vote on whether or not they want an English Parliament?

PRISCILLA CULLEN

Breachwood Green

Hitchin, Hertfordshire

Dr James Wilkie (Letters, 1 March) can hardly have been surprised at the SNP attempt to sneak acceptance of the EU into their proposed referendum on Scottish independence from the rest of the UK.

The SNP's slavish acceptance of any proposal emanating from the EU makes a mockery of their alleged commitment to the restoration of Scottish sovereignty.

Despite my life-long commitment to Scottish independence, no referendum that is set out in the manner of the SNP's proposals will ever get my support.

JIM FAIRLIE

Heathcote Road

Crieff