Ian Bell's incisive piece explores the extent of Labour's ruthless betrayal of British, and especially Scottish, voters to satisfy middle England (Your choice:
accept Miliband's remote hopes ... or rip it up and start again, Comment, September 7). In the mid-1980s under Neil Kinnock, Labour decided to get this traditionally volatile section of the electorate, while continuing to take the Scots' vote for granted, a decision which may be one of the worst in Labour history.
For the next 30 years Labour was hamstrung, failing as opposition and in power. This propelled the drive towards devolution in Scotland and then towards independence. The transition to New Labour was the final nail in the coffin.
That is why no-one batted an eyelid when last February, shadow chancellor Ed Balls stood shoulder to shoulder with the Coalition Government in attempting to deny the Scots their currency.
That is why, when Scots finally reclaim their sovereignty, it will not just be a man called Cameron who will be judged to have slept on his watch. History books will say it was Labour who lost the Union.
Joan S Laverie
Edinburgh
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