Bidding to stir up grievances

Sir, - Many have understandable concerns about the violence in Catalonia.

Clashes between police and those wanting to vote in the independence referendum should and could have been avoided if cooler heads had led the way.

Yet those simply laying the blame with the Spanish Government play to the preferred separatist narrative of events.

There are two sides to this argument and many commentators in the run up to the vote felt the leadership of the Catalan independence movement were knowingly seeking confrontation to try to win more support for their cause.

We should remember that the latest polls showed the clear majority in Catalonia want to remain as part of Spain.

To some extent the Scottish example shows what an invidious position the Spanish Government found itself in.

While our referendum was at times fractious it was thankfully peaceful, but nevertheless was not accepted by some independence supporters as having resolved anything.

Instead expression of a substantial but minority viewpoint is viewed by some as setting a precedent which can then be used to constantly agitate for further votes, seeking to stir grievance at every turn as they attempt to get their way. Keith Howell. White Moss, West Linton.

While our referendum was at times fractious it was thankfully peaceful, but nevertheless was not accepted by some independence supporters as having resolved anything