RUSSELL Horn is mistaken (Letters, May 9). The Scottish Liberal Democrats have given a full response to recent opinion polls. It is, quite simply, that we will be happy to work with any party in the Scottish Parliament that agrees with our priorities - health, education, and jobs.
If the SNP would only show that they agree that these are the issues the Parliament must tackle as a priority then there would be no bar at all to our co-operation with them. As it stands, however, their priority for Scotland is for more constitutional wrangling, followed by detailed legislation to establish a separate Scottish army, navy, and air force.
Liberal Democrats can't go along with that, when our schools are crumbling and our hospitals starved of cash. That is the fact of the matter, and it is unaltered by opinion polls.
Willie Rennie,
Chief Executive,
Scottish Liberal Democrats,
4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh.
May 11.
ALF Young describes the idea that Scotland's Unionist parties are approaching a ''constitutional Alamo'' as a ''premature fantasy'' (May 8). Because support in the polls for devolution appears to be greater than that for independence, the most a dominant SNP group in the new parliament would do would be to serve an ''indefinite apprenticeship'' as it would not ''be daft enough to run that (independence) referendum unless it was certain of winning it''.
On that view, the SNP should never have contested any election campaigning for independence for Scotland. Yet the current situation in Scottish politics is due to the SNP doing just that. The SNP's drive to independence has had a ratchet effect on the expectations and aspirations of the people of Scotland.
Today's political landscape is the direct result of the SNP's unfailing commitment to Scotland's cause. The fact is that the SNP cannot lose by holding a referendum on independence. All of the Unionist parties know this. That is why they excluded the option from last year's devolution referendum. That is also why they are desperate to stop such a referendum in the new Parliament.
It seems that they have learned more from the Alamo than Alf Young. After all, even though the Texans lost that battle the fact that they fought it won their independence from Mexico. Then again, who is to bet on the SNP not winning its battle at a referendum?
George Gebbie,
47 Camphill Avenue, Glasgow.
May 8.
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