ADAM Ingram, a former Labour Minister, may perhaps be reflecting plans by some at Westminster to refuse to accept a Yes vote ("Labour veteran warns MPs may try to reverse a Yes win", The Herald, November 12).It is worth reminding Scottish voters when they listen to anti-independence rants from MPs that they have a big personal vested interest in maintaining the status-quo.
I have no doubt that Danny Alexander, Margaret Curran and Ian Davidson have convinced themselves that independence would not be good for Scotland. But we should remember that with a Yes vote they would be out of a job, as would all those with their nice part-time jobs in the House of Lords. Holyrood members, in contrast, would not only have jobs but increased status and power, and I suspect that there are more than a few on the opposition benches who would not be too unhappy at a Yes vote. The public would get a modest bonus - around £50m each year is our contribution to the running costs of the Commons and Lords.
There is another concern about the views of Scottish Westminster MPs which voters need to keep in mind when making their referendum decision. The MPs resent the fact that their powers in relation to Scotland are limited and that most of the focus in political debate here is on Holyrood. They also know that there is real pressure to reduce their voting rights. They most certainly do not want any substantial increase in devolved powers and will fight against this.
If there is a No vote, what Westminster Government is going to fight its Scottish backbenchers (obviously not a problem for the Tory Party) to push through anything approaching devo-max when it will see the Scottish problem as being solved?
Isobel Lindsay,
9 Knocklea Place, Biggar.
DAVID Leask's article is highly selective in the comments he attributes to me.
I was commenting from the floor of the conference in response to scenarios which were being advanced about the possible serious damage to the economy, defence and so on following a Yes vote. I made the point that the people would have the right to reflect on their decision and in the event of a narrow vote to separate on a low turnout, could put pressure on political parties and their Members of Parliament to seek another referendum.
My central point was that the people have the ultimate say in how they are to be governed and to reject, if they wish, the dictat of party leaders. Make no mistake, if the vote is narrow in favour of the Union, Alex Salmond and the separatists will continue their campaign to break up the United Kingdom.
For the record, I believe there will be a large turnout in the referendum with an overwhelming vote against separation and against Scotland leaving the United Kingdom.
Rt Hon Adam Ingram,
Member of Parliament 1987-2010,
East Kilbride.
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