THE way in which history repeats itself is less than amusing.

Here again we have a Tory leader with a guid Scots name promising us all the sweeties on God's good earth if only we vote negatively. Aye, fine. Some of us have memories that go back beyond the days when the Liberal Democrats broke all their promises. Some of us recall the promise, which was quite specific, made by Alec Douglas-Home to grant us greater powers if only we voted No in the 1979 referendum.

I have little doubt that many readers will be cheered by these encouraging words by a Prime Minister hounded by Nigel Farage's lot and his more rabid back-benchers ("Cameron promises more powers if Scots vote No", The Herald, May 17). Some among us may ponder upon the question of why the option of such enhanced devolution will not be upon the ballot paper when the Prime Minister is now promising it if only we say No.

I do not think we will say No. I think we are aware of the value of promises made by Tory or other Westminster politicians. We may very well be aware that we need to sort out some of our own, but we need no lectures from the deepest south on that issue. Perhaps at last we can find the prospect of historical repetition ridiculous and get on with running our own affairs.

KM Campbell,

Bank House, Doune.

I FIND the Better Together billboard campaign featuring a middle-aged couple saying "No thanks" to endangering their pensions through a Yes vote on Scottish independence to be deeply offensive. This message is coming from a UK Government that has allowed pensions to be eroded by disconnection from the retail price index and has pushed up pensionable age for almost everyone still to retire. This scaremongering was debunked by UK Pensions Minister Steve Webb ("Pension for Scots guaranteed after Yes vote", The Herald, May 7) who made the not-unreasonable point that Scots who made their contributions are of course entitled to receive their pensions.

When the Coalition Government announced the new flat-rate pension which takes effect from April, 2016, it was stated that the new pension of £144 per week would apply to anyone retiring after that date, while many people retiring before that date would receive less (my quote is around £113) - in perpetuity. My thinking at the time of the announcement was that there is plenty of time to fix this unjust arrangement and bring everyone on to the new rate. However, your article revealing the Government's new top-up option whereby people adversely affected by this plan can purchase up to £25 per week for £22,250 confirms that there is no intent to rectify this serious injustice and clear case of age discrimination ("How to top-up your state pension pot by £25 a week", Personal Finance, The Herald, May 10). I and many thousands of others are looking at a shortfall of £1500 a year, (greater than 25%) over our entire retirement.

Bearing in mind the track record over the last few Westminster governments (Conservative, Labour and Coalition) and that they can move the goalposts at any time in the future, it is clear to me that the best chance of getting to better, fairer pensions for all, based on a stronger economy and a much greater commitment to fairness, is to vote Yes for an independent Scotland on September 18.

Ron Dickinson,

Flat 8, 12 Kirklee Gate, Glasgow.