An excellent 
result for all 
concerned

THE referendum has produced an excellent result for the Scots and indeed for the English. 
We avoid splitting the island of Great Britain and the British nation, which could have had calamitous long-term consequences.

Scotland will gain such economic autonomy that problems there can no longer be blamed upon the English. The devolution of powers will be sufficient to trigger a solution to the West Lothian question, so that English domestic policy will not be subject to the casting votes of Scottish MPs.

There will no doubt be some disquiet in England, and among Tory MPs in particular, about 
the perpetuation of unfair Barnett funding (although 
that formula does include provision for gradual self-correction).

I think, however, we need to be realistic about the need for some such trade-off for the pooling of oil revenue.

Ultimately Scotland has the option of taking the oil and going off to play on its own. The North of England (which in any case also gets substantially above average per capita funding) has no such credible threat of secession.

It might be reasonable to ask that the extra needs of Northern Ireland be met from oil funds (and possibly even to merge Northern Ireland with Scotland to underline that), but a favourable financial deal for Scotland is essential.

This could mean better services, lower taxes, and a less parsimonious benefits system for residents of Scotland. If the extent of this makes it a significant issue for my fellow inhabitants of England, then we do have the option of moving north.

One of Alex Salmond’s most remarkable and least acceptable policy aspirations was to encourage immigration on an even larger scale than the UK is already experiencing.

If he wants more people 
we should be only too happy 
to oblige him with folk from 
here.

From: DS Boyes, Upper Rodley Lane, Leeds.

The No vote in Scotland, which keeps the United Kingdom together possibly now in perpetuity, has in itself opened a huge can of constitutional worms.

Because England is 86 per cent of the UK population and provides most of the tax revenues which support the other regions, especially Scotland via the Barnett formula etc, David Cameron, Nick Clegg, Ed Miliband and Gordon 
Brown will make even more off-the-cuff promises while England remains at a permanent disadvantage.

For example, we pay the same taxes yet we have to pay in full for NHS prescriptions, university tuition, social care of the elderly etc while Scotland gets them free!

On top of this inequality the votes of Scottish MPs at Westminster are used to force through legislation for England only, which does not apply in Scotland.

This seems rather undemocratic to say the least, if not immoral.

Although relieved at the saving of the ‘Union’ what most want to hear from all three main parties is how they intend to give England the same terms and conditions, not how much more we are expected to give to England.

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

WHILE devolution is in the air, we could do worse than remember the old West Riding County Council which ran education, health, police, highways, libraries, planning and fire services throughout the rural West Riding right up to 1974, and in my memory did them all rather better than they have been done since.

The county boroughs operated independently of the above, and the little urban district councils within its umbrella.

Perhaps we might look again at this pattern – and while we are at it let us kill off that bureaucratic misconception of South, North and East and restore The Ridings to their proper place.

Helping hand
for the poor

From: Malcolm Holroyd, Greetland, Halifax.

I HAVE just read Jayne Dowle’s article about austerity (The Yorkshire Post, September 8) and agree entirely with her sentiments.

We support the “drop-in” centre in Halifax at our church and take food to them every week – what a privilege to be able to give as freely as we have received from God’s hand.

We realise that this blessing is to be shared out with the “have nots” that Jayne and others are concerned about.

Looking back
down track

From: PJ Nightingale, The Vinery, Howden.

I HAVE enjoyed the reminiscing by your readers regarding 
seeing Mallard and in particular G Marsden’s letter (The 
Yorkshire Post, September 
17).

However surely you visit the footplate of a steam locomotive and the cab of a diesel or electric locomotive, which brings me back to my treasured memory, ‘cabbing’ D9013 – The Black Watch, a class 55 Deltic locomotive and enjoying cab ride from one end of King’s Cross Station through Copenhagen tunnel and back again.