I SEE no contradiction in being both pro-choice and in favour of independence for Scotland. We should welcome the possibility of an end to the anomaly that devolves the NHS but retains laws about abortion to Westminster(“Women uneasy as abortion law is devolved to Holyrood”, The Herald, October 15, and Letters, October 14 & 16).
It might seem strange that a Tory minister of state in the form of Scottish Secretary David Mundell could be responsible for something potentially progressive.
Maybe he hopes that the anti-choice and anti-women forces will, like in the six counties of Ireland, impose an even more repressive situation than the limited decriminalisation of women we have had here had for the last 47 years.
However, readers should note that it will also be possible as well to campaign for a more progressive situation.
This is especially possible when a recent survey in Scotland recorded well over 50 per cent of nearly all social groups were in favour of women’s choice.
We also have the example of Canada since 1988 to follow. It introduced a similar but even more restrictive law decriminalising of women’s choice but had to scrap it in 1988 and was unable to agree new repressive legislation so has one of the most progressive situations of any modern industrial country where women in conjunction with their chosen doctor can chose if they need an abortion.
We may have to continue the struggle for both independence for women and independence for Scotland but let us set our sights for Holyrood beyond the limits of what is available in London or Brussels.
Norman Lockhart,
Plora, Waverley Road, Innerleithen.
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