Scotland should look to Germany on the question of independence

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

There is now a real challenge for those who wish to preserve the Union (Getty)

As a proud Scot, I can fully understand the desire of many of my compatriots for greater independence.

As a child living near Dundee in the early 1950s, I can remember neighbours’ offspring going off on a Saturday morning for elocution lessons. In those days, London was the draw and having an English accent was seen by many as desirable.

Time, of course, has moved on since then, and there is now a real challenge for those who wish to preserve the Union. (Clearly Blair’s hybrid devolution scheme did not do the trick.)

The solution is a generous federal arrangement, rather like the one in Germany. That, I think,  would satisfy the majority of Scots.

Andrew McLuskey

Ashford

Decent Tories

I always enjoy Judith Daniels’ letters and her latest observations where she makes an appeal to “decent Tories” struck a chord.

I have pondered why so many apparently unprincipled MPs fail to do anything about a prime minister who appears to be dishonest and seeking only to feather his own nest, government policies which have contributed to unnecessary deaths, extraordinary levels of sexual misbehaviour in Westminster including sexual harassment, and damaging government incompetence and/or misguided ideology leading to a severely compromised public sector.

Not to mention financial mismanagement, particularly in terms of government contracts, serious damage to the UK’s international reputation, the pursuit of a version of Brexit for which nobody voted and now, it becomes clear, is contributing disproportionately to the economic crisis.

If nothing in this “top of the head” list stimulates action from Tory MPs, I fear nothing can or will. Their inaction implicates each one of them in the same guilt and failure of moral courage shared by their senior colleagues. It isn’t enough to do nothing.

I’m afraid that the “decent Tories” are becoming extinct.

David Lowndes

Southampton

Young blood

I sympathise with the views of Judith Daniels in yesterday’s Letters, but would extend her suggestion about backbenchers appealing to the Tory hierarchy.

How about completely replacing it with a new regime of younger and less stuck-in-the-mud MPs?

Vic Gaunt

Bolton

Labour needs to have some answers ready

I have just listened to Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, discuss the country’s current dilemmas, as questioned by Sophie Raworth, but he had very little to offer.

Instead, Mr Burnham simply criticised the Tories over and over again. It was like listening to a broken record. His contribution to the programme was simply that the government wasn’t doing enough to right the wrongs that the Tories have caused.

However, he had no answer to what was necessary to right those wrongs. I do hope that when Labour are seeking to be the next governing party they have properly researched and validated proposals that can be understood and acceptable to the populace.

Also, Mr Burnham didn’t fully answer any of the questions Raworth put to him, which was excruciatingly irritating. What is expected from our leaders are truthful answers, and policies which work for the electorate and provide new and better work horizons for our children.

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Unlike the Tory party, Labour must be open and honest at all times – and even more so at election time. It is the time when people are looking for information on which to base their voting preferences. It’s the best time to capture their attention with policies and promises which directly affect their lives and futures.

Mr Burnham and all the other Labour Party hopefuls must learn to stop waffling, as it reduces any impact of the information, and discuss fully the pros and cons of their policies.

Saying less is better than saying the wrong thing. Come on Andy, you can do better!

Keith Poole

Basingstoke