Creation of Irish Republic has little relevance to case for Scottish independence

Not for the first time I find myself in disagreement with Kenny Macaskill’s interpretation of Irish history and its relevance to the current case for Scottish independence ( Perspective, 30 May).

The decision by the late Taoiseach, John Costello, to create the Irish Republic in 1948 was not an act of radicalism. It was a socially conservative measure which was opposed even by strong republicans like Eamon De Valera on two grounds: it did nothing to solve the vexed question of the partition of the island confirmed by the Peace Treaty of 1921, neither did it enhance the status of the Irish Free State in the eyes of the world.

Post- war, t hat s t ate had become almost a theocracy, with the role of the Catholic Church enhanced by constitutional changes introduced in the inter- war years.

It was stagnant in economic terms and emigration levels were high and continued to be so until well into the 1970s. It was never clear why Mr Costello was happy to declare part of Ireland a Republic at that time.

The fact that it was accepted with good grace and without controversy by the British g o v e r n me n t o f t h e t i me reflects j ust how timid the change was.

I t i s easy to assume t hat Scottish voters will react to Brexit with a surge towards i ndependence. I t i s worth noting that many who voted SNP at the Westminster and Holyrood elections stayed away from the polls on 23 May despite the party’s impressive performance ( incidentally, winning 50 per cent of the seats with less than 40 per cent of the vote reflects a flaw in the proportional voting system).

Even those who turned out were not necessarily diehard opponents of Brexit.

They may simply have been aghast at the incompetence of the Conservatives and Labour over the way the project has been managed.

There will be no almost automatic support for independence even if the United Kingdom l eaves without a deal in the autumn; any more than Mr Costello’s surprise decision over 70 years ago did anything to fulfil the longstanding ambitions of those who yearned for a true Irish Republic free from British influence.

BOB TAYLOR Shiel Court, Glenrothes