WITH reference to the No parties, Ian Bell writes that "now they refuse to say what the choice truly involves" or "say nothing about the aftermath of a No vote" ("We must know consequences before we can make a choice", The Herald, August 17).As far as the Liberal Democrats are concerned, he is wrong.
Last October a Commission on Home Rule and Community Rule was published by the LibDems under the direction of Menzies Campbell, stating clearly what we as LibDems want to see after the No vote in 2014. Our message is a very positive one, to ensure that we maximise our "independence" from London through a federal structure, which would include devolution for England, but also to ensure that we don't just exchange a centralised bureaucracy in London with a centralised bureaucracy in Edinburgh, which Alex Salmond is fast creating for himself.
Scottish Secretary Michael Moore's comments on home rule for the islands fits very neatly into the overall aspirations of the Liberal Democrats for all of Scotland - much more decentralised power, but support within the UK when it's really needed ("Islands need greater autonomy with or without independence, says Moore", The Herald, August 15). This is what most of the people of Scotland appear to want.
Eileen McCartin, Liberal Democrat Councillor,
13 Greenways Avenue,
Paisley.
I NOTE with interest David McMillan's comments (Letters, August 21) proposing Alan Johnson as Labour leader. With Liam Byrne as Shadow Chancellor, Labour would have in place a formidable team of economic incompetents. The first thing Alan Johnson did, when he became Shadow Chancellor, was to buy a book on economics, but fortunately he resigned the appointment in short time. With the note left for his successor after the 2010 General Election, Liam Byrne's erroneous declaration that there was no money left - he omitted to mention the £178bn public expenditure deficit - put in perspective his economic credentials.
The Coalition cuts are required to eliminate that deficit, and Labour has opposed few of the measures.
The prospect of Alan Johnson as First Lord of the Treasury (as Prime Minister) and Liam Byrne as Chancellor having economic jurisdiction over Scotland, in the event of a No vote in the referendum should stack up the Yes votes for independence and for other parties in the 2016 Holyrood election.
Douglas R Mayer,
76 Thomson Crescent, Currie.
I WAS interested to read that Winston Churchill's legendary speeches were "not universally loved" ("Churchill's speeches 'not universally loved'", The Herald, August 21 ). I suspect that Professor Toye was not alive during the dark war days. I was, and can assure him that the speeches were a source of great comfort and inspiration. They were not, however, greatly loved by Adolf Hitler.
Sheila Cowan,
8 Glencairn Road, Langbank.
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