Pig in a poke
Sir – In her letter in the NT of 4th October, Lily Byron says the referendum “is not about the SNP”. Of course it is.
Lily Byron supported the NT’s supplement because it gave some (much needed) publicity to the SNP cause.
Not the cause of the Conservatives or Labour or the Lib Dems, it is singularly the cause of the SNP. Indeed, it is the cause which all the other political parties vigorously oppose.
It is the only reason the Scottish National Party exists, that was the reason for its creation. At one time it was their only proclaimed policy.
Given success in the last devolved Scottish Assembly election, the SNP saw that as a starting gun for their aspiration and in Alex Salmond’s shoes I would have done the same; strike while the iron is hot.
Knowing the fickleness of electorates he couldn’t wait for a second chance, for the mood may change, indeed it may already be changing.
Who is going to vote for a pig in a poke? Doubtless many will, but if the ultimate success is not achieved it may provide the leverage for more concessions from Westminster, so the policy may not prove to be a disastrous one.
There is scant information yet available, the theme of being all things to all men pervades the utterances from the SNP, the desire to paint the Conservatives and the English as the enemy, nuclear anything as abhorrent, but we want to keep NATO, the Bank of England, the monarchy, we want to be in Europe, but we don’t want the euro. Everything is up for settlement after we gain independence.
In the words of Donald Rumsfeld: “We have known unknowns and we have unknown unknowns.” Scottish independence is an unknown unknown.
Russell Taylor
The Haven
Dornoch Road
Bonar Bridge
