AS a committed supporter of home rule and one who voted No, I recognise the enormous debt that our nation will owe to Alex Salmond and those in the Yes campaign in the decades ahead.
It is arguable that few others have done so much to ensure Scottish home rule and, it seems, a federal United Kingdom.
Mr Salmond's resignation is a dignified response to the vote by a truly magnificent politician ("'My time as leader is nearly over but for Scotland the dream shall never die'", The Herald, September 20). He must now be given his place in shaping the future of Scotland. While nationalists will no doubt feel bitterly disappointed, the result has caused a feeling of national relief, albeit in many cases, a melancholy one. Collectively, we all now await promised reforms.
Nationalists have often derided the Union with England Act of 1707 as an affront to democracy and in many ways they are right. This, the basis of our constitution, guarantees many Scottish freedoms, but it is riddled with outdated intolerance and was never subject to the scrutiny of a realistically representative parliament. The referendum has now resulted in the renewal of vows, which I have alluded to previously.
The majority of Scots voters have actually voted for a United Kingdom. Claims that the 1707 Union locks us into partnership we do not want are no longer valid. Scots have now positively voted for a union. However, they did that due to the very late offers made on the back of Mr Salmond's lifetime of committed political service. As a nation that has decided to remain part of the United Kingdom, we would do well to remember the defining contribution played by Mr Salmond and all those involved with the Yes campaign.
Scots have now chosen to remain in a larger framework state which must now cater for our complex societies throughout these islands. Scotland forever. UK for all.
Allan C Steele,
22 Forres Avenue,
Giffnock.
"THERE'S no safer place to be than in the hands of the Scottish people", said Alex Salmond on the eve of referendum day, and his faith was not misplaced. Enough of the Scottish people realised that a country seeking independence must have a very firm foundation and a very sound, detailed plan to put before the electorate.
Not only was independence proposed but, in the process, the breaking up and dismantling of the United Kingdom, one of the most successful democracies the world has ever seen, to which and within which we are inextricably linked.
Those on the outside looking in were incredulous. Would the G8 become the G9 or the G20 the G21? In the vernacular, yeah, right. There was desperation to get out of this Union but equal desperation to stay within the greater EU.
All the things that needed to change, to stop, what we didn't want, wouldn't accept - were trotted out ad nauseam.
The list was endless. Emotional rhetoric was everywhere. We never got the Government we voted for - did Blair Jenkins ever say anything else? Were all these years of a Labour Government an illusion?
Unfortunately for the Yes Campaign, no one could provide a serious straightforward answer to a serious straightforward question but, never mind, we would still get EastEnders.
The NHS assumed its place as a political football mired in downright lies. Perhaps the word "devolved" should have been explained from the outset. Industrialists, accountants, financiers, business people - owners and administrators of the means of production- do not deal in fantasy, fiction or emotional nationalism.
We didn't even know what currency we would be using to count the massive debt we would undoubtedly have incurred. It's all very well planning for the war, but what about the peace?
Now is the time to look forward and outward, not to pull up the nationalist drawbridge. Patrick Harvie was right when he said no-one would want to attack us. We would have been an irrelevance.
We have a great opportunity as proud Scots to welcome a European team to Gleneagles next week and support them all in their endeavours. Our beautiful country will be on show for the world to see - it is still Scotland, it is still ours and we are all, and should be, very proud of it. Change is coming, we have ensured that. It is not only proud Edward that has been sent home to think again.
J Mathie,
16 Sheepburn Road, Glasgow.
MANY people foolishly personalised opposition to the public desire for independence into attacks on Alex Salmond, yet this historic occasion has been the greatest expression of genuine democracy ever witnessed in Britain, with enthusiastic debate stimulated at all levels of our society. Politicians will all be trembling.
Mr Salmond has wisely decided to go out at the top as the most successful Scottish party leader ever. Failure to achieve a majority for independence masks the obvious fact that he gained a win/win/win position, with the fumbling assistance of the UK's Prime Minister.
The latter's panic-stricken intervention produced three probable outcomes, each of which ensured success for Mr Salmond. A Yes vote would obviously have done so; increased devolved powers was his own suggestion, made in the knowledge that most Scots wanted that, and has duly been gained, while the third possibility- failure to provide sufficient improvement in devolution - would fulfil his prophecy. It's already happening.
David Cameron, having performed a near-comic last-gasp U-turn on his original rejection of devo-max, is already facing opposition on all fronts, from his own MPs as well as from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. He is already in a "jump or be pushed" position.
Robert Dow,
Ormiston Road,
Tranent.
I HAVE read many tributes in your newspaper from political allies and opponents alike of Alex Salmond since he announced his decision not to accept nomination as a candidate for First Minister in the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections ("Salmond is praise by friends and opponents", The Herald, September 20). I was reminded of a clip I recently caught on television coverage where the First Minister showed his customary genuine warmth and compassion, on this occasion towards a wonderful young man with Down's syndrome. Notwithstanding the many talents which have made him a skilled politician, I think it is this sincere warmth and compassion which sets him apart from so many politicians in the United Kingdom today.
Joyce Robertson ,
11 Wood Aven Drive,
East Kilbride.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article