Huge Support for Independence (Herald)

In the context of the recently oft-repeated assertion that a majority of the people of Scotland voted for Unionist parties on May 3, the letter from Danus Skene (May 14) is highly significant.

To be a LibDem supporter, a Tory or a Labour supporter and to support Scottish independence is perfectly compatible and, as we were told often enough, the election we just experienced was not about independence but mainly about a wide range of issues, many of them to do with the day-to-day governance of Scotland within the limitations of our parliament's devolved status.

In common with thousands of political activists across Scotland, I was recently involved in a huge canvassing effort and I have the details of the about 2000 returns on a survey of about 22,000 voters across Argyll and Bute.

Of those returning the survey who identified themselves as intending to vote LibDem around 60% ticked "yes" for independence, were we to have such a referendum; for Labour supporters it was over 75% and even 28% of Tories expressed support for Scotland going it alone.

The other highly significant feature of the returns was that the SNP amassed more second preferences than the others put together - an indication of intent that was fully realised when one looks at the list voting patterns across the country at the election. To a considerable extent the survey return was a self-selecting one and it is likely that those more inclined to independence were more inclined to return it; nevertheless, it clearly demonstrated the possibility of a huge independence vote in a referendum from many who do not at present vote SNP.

This, I suspect, is why our Unionist parties are so opposed to a referendum. They know it would divide their support and they know they might well lose the vote.

Confused, contradictory and ambiguous positions on the Irish Home Rule question destroyed the Liberals in the early years of the last century. Similar puzzling behaviour on the Scotland question is threatening to reverse the modest LibDem revival of recent years and destroy the party as an electable force in Scotland for the foreseeable future. The constitutional question - which will now dominate Scottish politics - is eating away at the support of the Tory and Labour parties also and the old left/right polarisation is becoming much less important than the nationalist/unionist one. My guess is that the LibDems will be the first party to divide on the issue (as it did on the Irish question) and it will serve them right.

Their constitution is quite clear. It reads: "We believe that sovereignty rests with the people and that authority in a democracy derives from the people. We therefore acknowledge their right to determine the form of government best suited to their needs." (Unless we don't like it, that is.)

David McEwan Hill, 1 Tom Nan Ragh, Dalinlongart, Sandbank, Argyll.

Suspicion remains

I am pleased Christopher Mason, leader of the LibDem group on Glasgow City Council, has attempted to explain why the LibDems were willing to do a coalition deal with Labour but not with the SNP (May 14). However, his letter does not explain their absolute opposition to a referendum on independence.

It would be perfectly reasonable for the Liberal Democrats to maintain their support for a federal UK while supporting a referendum on independence. After all, a referendum is simply a choice. If the Liberal Democrats still support the Claim of Right document for Scotland which they signed up to during the devolution debate, then they must logically subscribe to the position that the Scottish people have a sovereign right to choose their own political destiny.

Those who are unwilling to do so can make any excuse they like, but the suspicion must remain that the only reason they don't want the question to be asked is because they also don't think they will like the answer.

Joe Middleton, Independence First, 1/4 Wardieburn Place South, Edinburgh.