Irish independence would have been lost if it had been in a referendum

IAN W Thomson’s suggestion (Letters, December 11) that the Scottish Labour Party should follow the example of its Irish counterpart in 1918 and commit hari-kari in the interests of Scottish independence is at least an interesting and novel one. That, a century ago he tells us, helped “produced a huge majority for independence across most of Ireland”. Let us corrects a couple of his errors. The election of 1918 in Ireland did give Sinn Fein 73 out of 101 parliamentary seats, which it used as a mandate to declare independence. However, this was achieved on a minority – 47 per cent – of the popular vote across Ireland, which figure itself distorted Sinn Fein support. In many areas of western Ireland Sinn Fein was already a parallel authority and its supporters obeyed its instructions to “Vote early and vote often”. Electoral fraud and intimidation were widespread. On a referendum, Irish independence would have been lost. But that is now by the by.

As to Labour’s position on Scotland it is now, as I understand it, as it always was, support for home rule, not independence.

Now to those former Labour politicians whom Mr Thomson cites from beyond the grave, claiming who would support independence today.

Keir Hardie and James Maxton remained in the Labour Party and remained supporters of home rule, or what we call today devolution.

The two others cited who moved to support independence, John Maclean and RB Cunningham Graham, left the Labour Party.

All four had consistent positions.

If the SNP cannot – as increasingly looks likely – deliver independence, it should not expect that other parties who never have done so, should come to its support, and commit political suicide.

What happened to the Irish Labour Party after 1918?

Ian R Mitchell,

21 Woodside Terrace,

Glasgow.