I AM a "schemie".

I was not born into a housing scheme, but I have lived in them most of my life after leaving the Merchant Navy. As I write this I have already voted, but the result is not in. I sincerely hope that it is the result I want.

My experience with education: after being at the big school for about three or four months in, one of the boys asked: "Sir ,when do we get an English or maths teacher?"I still remember his answer: "Why? You are all second-rate material. You came from nothing, you will amount to nothing. You have all the education you need to be factory fodder."

I had just turned 13 when I started my third job and was paying tax and national insurance on all three. I was disabled at 43 after 14 heart attacks in one day, widowed at 63 and diagnosed with asbestosis the same week. Over the years I have watched and heard the lies that have come out of Westminster, the bribes of EU posts or the Lords with their deep troughs and rich gravy trains.

Politicians of all parties don't know the true meaning of public service, while we at the very bottom of society are called benefit scroungers or charity cases. Well, we are not. All we want is a half-decent life with enough to eat and not having to worry about cold days or nights. We know Westminster does not care and I voted Yes in the hope that maybe, just maybe, a new invigorated country might treat my grandchildren fairly. But whatever, Westminster is on notice that things must change because we are sick of promises never kept. At least with Holyrood you can doorstep the politicos: a frightening thought for them.

Kenneth C Bourne,

34 Brisbane Street, Craigshill, Livingston.