A politician must represent all constituents, not just those who voted for them
If Kenny Macaskill (Perspective, 2 January) believes that independence is inevitable then he had better get on with persuading the 63.8 per cent of the electorate of East Lothian who voted for parties who want to keep Scotland in the UK on the benefits of separatism.
As an MP he will be well aware that his job is to represent the interests of all his constituents, not just the minority who voted for him. Since his party, the SNP, have been very vocal about the wrongs of one region being ripped from a union against their will expressed through the ballot box, we can assume that he will vote against any further referendum on Scottish independence should the option ever be put before him at Westminster.
SJ CLARK Easter Road, Edinburgh
At last, a member of the SNP’S hierarchy has admitted what we never hear from Nicola Sturgeon or Ian Blackford: “The economic case for independence needs making”. SNP politicians avoid economics and finance at all costs when making the case for breaking up the UK because there is no credible economic case for creating a separate country and they know it.
Mr Macaskill goes on to state “...but many will vote regardless” of the economic case for independence. This gives us some insight into the nationalist socialist psyche – it doesn’t matter what the economic or financial consequences of independence will be – and they will be dire, as evidenced by Andrew Wilson’s Growth Commission report – because they can dupe supporters. Ms Sturgeon did confirm in September 2016 that “independence is more important than oil, national wealth and balance sheets”. So the SNP belief is that “regardless” of the economic case, they have the support they need.
I hope sensible, responsible Scots do not fall for this reckless attitude towards the future of our precious Scotland. Mr Macaskill’s record on the economics of change is, of course, not good. He was the architect of Police Scotland (or Poileas Alba as the SNP prefer to call it), which was established to be more economically sound than eight efficient forces accountable to local authorities. That, as we know, has been an unmitigated disaster so we can take his pronouncements on economics with a pinch of salt.
Mr Macaskill, there is no “unstoppable tide towards independence”, far too many sensible and economically astute Scots will prove that – you can’t dupe us. DOUGLAS COWE Alexander Avenue Kingseat, Newmachar