Neighbours need not be our friends

ANDREW Vine discusses Scottish Nationalism and declares that “Scotland and its people are our friends, our neighbours, our family” (The Yorkshire Post, September 16).

No they are not. Neighbours, yes, but friends and family? Show me the Scot who, when presented with a form requiring nationality, describes himself as “British” rather than “Scottish”. “We value and cherish them”? Who is he trying to kid? They value England alright. Lord Barnett has described his own formula as a “terrible mistake” and says that it is now a “national embarrassment” and “should be scrapped”. Not half, it should – along with their 49 Labour MPs voting at Westminster on matters which are nothing to do with Scotland.

Neighbours – fine. Friends and family? Show me the evidence, beyond their similarity to family when it comes to taking money!

From: M W Simpson, Deighton, Northallerton.

WITH regard to the question of Scottish independence, a comparison came to mind when looking back into the American Civil War. The Confederate currency became worthless, no one accepting payment in Confederate dollars.

I am told that there is approximately 30 years of oil left at the moment. It might suggest that the oil price is based on dollars. A Scottish currency may not be too welcome should the oil run out, and the conversion of oil dollars to a Scottish currency which the world may not recognise, may leave the same situation as the Southern States of America in the 1870s.

From: Cadhla Ni Frithile, Beechville, Clonard, Wexford, Ireland.

THE latest, panic-stricken, initiative, from the Better Together campaign, is genuinely mystifying. What they appear to be saying to Scotland is: If you don’t vote for independence, we’ll give you rather a lot of independence!

The hilarity, on the other side of the Irish Sea, is extensive.

From: Chris Foote-Wood, Prospective Parliamentary Lib Dem candidate for Richmond, Brook Terrace, Darlington.

THE leaders of the three main Westminster parties have promised the Scots more powers if they vote “No”, and crucially 
to retain the Barnett formula which gives the Scots extra money per head of population on all UK government spending.

Unless and until we in the North East and Yorkshire get our own Barnett formula, we will continue to lag behind the rest of the country in economic development, education, health and welfare. An English parliament is not the answer – we would be even more marginalised by the swathes of Tory MPs in the South.

From: JD Clark, Burnsall.

SCOTLAND finished last in the St Leger on Saturday. Is this an omen?

From: John Riseley, Harcourt Drive, Harrogate.

I DON’T want to start apportioning blame, but when Prince William went to St Andrews, did no one think to tell him that he was supposed to find a Scottish wife?

From: Rory Mulvihill, Naburn, York.

IRRESPECTIVE of the outcome of the vote, we will shortly need a designation for the inevitable post-referendum tensions. “The Mauled Alliance” perhaps, or ‘Wor Sore Pact’? Scots may prefer “The Mushy Peace”.

From: Mr M Scott, Hipperholme, Halifax.

CAN the law really allow one 16-year-old in the Outer Hebrides (no offence!) to change the entire constitution of the United Kingdom? I quote Alex Salmond: “If we win by one vote we will start independence the next day”.

From: Stephen W Watson, Farnley, Leeds.

WITH reference to the continuing comment and debate about Scotland’s proposed Independence, the referendum is taking place in the year of the seventh centenary of Robert the Bruce’s great victory at Bannockburn. The Battle of Bannockburn, 1314 AD, secured Scotland’s independence for the next 400 years.

Maybe now is the time for us English to try to restore peace, harmony and goodwill. We could make a start by sending representatives from our English Regiments to Bannockburn, to salute Mr Salmond and his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon. Than they might proceed, to the sites of the other battles in the wars between England and Scotland, and there lay wreaths in honour of the dead, Scots and English. Actions speak louder than words!

From: Christine McDade, Morton on Swale, Northallerton.

HOW my late father, a proud Glaswegian, would have loved to be involved in this recent dialogue.

Aged 14 years he won a Carnegie Scholarship to attend university. He was unable to do so when his father died suddenly and he joined the Cameronians in order to provide for his mother and younger siblings. Travelling the world as a career soldier, we were stationed at Farelf, Singapore, when Queen Elizabeth II acceded to the throne. His first reaction was to have headscarves produced for all the Scottish wives and daughters.

The headscarf? A Saltire emblazoned with Queen Elizabeth I, of Scots, of course.