Go quietly for 
the sake of Scotland

DESPITE my long distrust of this man, I did for one fleeting moment think that Alex Salmond had acted with honour and dignity by resigning after Scotland rejected his call for separation.

That temporary admiration quickly dissolved when I heard his ‘rant’ on how the three main party leaders at Westminster had ‘tricked and lied’ to get their way!

Sorry Alex, did you say they had tricked and lied to the people? I think Scotland knows they will get many more powers now and faster than had there been a Yes vote. So for the sake of Scotland and Scots unity Alex – go quietly and preserve some of your dignity.

From: Wayne Chadburn, Thurlstone Road, Penistone, Sheffield.

I DISAGREED with Philip Davies when he wrote that “We do not need regional government” (The Yorkshire Post, September 20).

The type of assembly Mr Prescott proposed and was rejected by the North East was a mere talking-shop add-on to local democracy. After the debate fermented by the Scottish referendum, we have a once in a lifetime chance to totally change the way we are governed in this country. We don’t need to add to our layers of democracy, just streamline them.

A three tier level of governance – a parliament of the UK in Westminster, regional assemblies with the powers Scotland has and is promised and more localised issues dealt with by town and parish councillors.

One thing I am in agreement with Mr Davies on – we don’t need an English Parliament. This would mean more Westminster influence over an even more left behind North than at present. We deserve much better.

From: DS Boyes, Rodley Lane, Rodley, Leeds.

LEEDS Central MP Hilary Benn, objecting to the voting rights of Scottish MPs on legislation only affecting England being curtailed, is a hypocrite.

He should know that a most important principle of our Parliamentary ‘democracy’ is that politicians must be accountable to those affected by their actions.

At least David Cameron is trying to do something to redress the balance in the future, albeit a bit late in the day.

From: Peter Asquith-Cowen, First Lane, Anlaby, Near Beverley.

A PROMISE is a promise and must be honoured. All three parties have to get this sorted out – and soon but for Ed Miliband, the loss of votes on “English issues” by the 41 remaining Scottish MPs leaves him in the same position. Labour needs the Scottish votes, and must address why so many Scottish voters ditched it for the SNP, which has “split” the Socialist vote. To me it is obvious. What does Labour stand for today?

From: Michael Dobson, Feversham Crescent, York.

NOW that the Scots have decided that they would like remain in the Union, can the rest of the country now have a referendum to decide if we want them, as the bribes offered by Cameron, Clegg and Miliband to boost the No vote are going to cost a small fortune.

Regardless of referendum promises, the Barnett Formula has to go. Alex Salmond has always emphasised how prosperous Scotland could be on its own and if it is to have its own taxation regime then the Scottish Parliament can raise the money to pay for its largesse instead of using funds from Whitehall.

If devolution is going to bring an end to the “West Lothian question”, shouldn’t the same principle apply to Welsh MPs as the Welsh Assembly also has devolved powers?

From: John Fisher, Menwith Hill, Harrogate.

THE promises made to the Scottish voters by David Cameron may yet come to haunt him. When he holds the much publicised referendum on our future as members of the EU, there could be a sting in the tail of the legislation.

If Scotland were to see its future more secure within the EU, would they need a separate referendum vote for Scotland? Should Scotland be forced to accept the majority vote of the UK they would they be able to challenge any decision to leave the EU on the grounds that it could damage the commercial future of Scotland?

The genie is out of the bottle and all the parties who made promises for future change may live through some very interesting times.

From: Stan Smith, Cleaside Avenue, South Shields.

THE principle of Scottish MPs having a say in English matters is a conundrum that has yet to be addressed.

From: David Downs, Mountbatten Avenue, Sandal, Wakefield.

HAVING just listened to Ed Balls on the BBC’s Today programme (Monday, September 22), I now completely sympathise with voters in Scotland, who wished to be independent of Westminster.

Having been asked at least six times, he refused to answer the simple question “is it now fair for the Scottish MPs to be able to vote in the Westminster Parliament on purely English issues?”

Does he think the English electorate are ignorant of the fact that Labour will need his Scottish colleagues in getting through policies should they win the next general election? Is it any wonder there is so much apathy and disillusionment in British politics and politicians when we witness such hypocrisy?