Centrist solution

Ayesha Hazarika (The Scotsman, 11 April) may be right, a new UK Centrist party might fail, but it might succeed in Scotland’s proportional representation system.

We have similar problems to RUK: decline of family life, globalisation and the loss of accountable local ownership, increasing automation and loss of wellpaid, skilled jobs, obesity and decline in education.

A new party should spell out the problems and how to fix them. We need independent commissions to recommend education, health and economic reforms based on what is best for the country, not for politicians, and a review of how well devolved powers have been discharged and which of them are required.

Many, for example the new welfare EU farm payments agencies, are kilted versions of existing UK or EU powers, cost a fortune, may not be deliverable and actually serve a different agenda, that of prising Scotland apart from the UK.

It should also emphasise and encourage personal responsibility and counter the blame and entitlement culture.

A new party could emulate the Greens and get enough second votes to win several regional seats at Holyrood. The threat might just galvanise the main opposition parties out of their complacen cy and into developing – and communicating – common sense policies now.

And in a very possible scenario where neither Labour, SNP nor Conservatives can form a government, its support could be conditional on the adoption of radical, common sense solutions to Scotland’s needs. ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven