IT is interesting that the Nationalists are incensed at the advice of the Queen in urging voters to "think very carefully" before making their decision in the referendum ("Queen 'is a political tool'", The Herald, December 18).
Obviously they wanted people not to think carefully about it. And who can blame them?
Peter A Russell,
87 Munro Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow.
NATALIE McGarry, co-founder of Women for Independence, will probably be branded a bitter republican. The following may change people's opinion.
Prior to the referendum vote there was a lot of people on the better together side arguing that their case would be immeasurably strengthened if the Queen voiced her support for the No campaign. The Palace officials refused stating the Queen should remain neutral.
Move forward to the Queen exiting church during her stay at Balmoral and a police sergeant, instead of keeping the crowd of onlookers at a distance back as is normal practice, waves the crowd forward. The Queen then, highly unusually, went over and spoke to one of the onlookers who immediately reported to the press on condition of anonymity that the Queen had advised Scots to "think very carefully" before voting. The informant then disappeared. totally never to be heard of or identified in any way. The following day the front pages of the newspapers were plastered with "Queen supports no vote" headlines.
Is this a fantasy dreamed up by some delusional nationalist? It is in fact the words of the royal historian Thomas Penn in his article about the monarchy and its influence in the magazine History Today. If anyone ever believed that the referendum would be allowed to be a fair fight this shows the establishment would use every dirty trick to preserve their position.
David Stubley,
22 Templeton Crescent, Prestwick.
As a Conservative bystander, I reckon Jim Murphy can take great comfort from the tide of letters you have published (December 16, 17 & 18) mocking or denigrating his election as leader of Scottish Labour. I guess they are from SNP supporting Yes men (and women),and from my impartial viewpoint what they do show is that they must be rattled by the prospect of a widely respected and politically experienced big beast taking them on.
Alan Fitzpatrick,
10 Solomon's View,
Dunlop.
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