“Scots wha hae” delirium

Many thanks for Robin Stevenson of Glasgow’s ranting diatribe (A Stuart Hill Myth; SN 12/6/15). It’s the most satisfying and enjoyable read I’ve had in a long time. 

My letter on the islands’ “opt out” obviously struck a nerve at Gordon Lamb House.

Mr Stevenson misrepresents me on too many points for me to deal with here without straying from my main point, which is the potential loss of a referendum “opt out” if Shetland (and/or Orkney) votes ‘No’ within an overall Scottish ‘Yes’.

He dismisses as “fantasy” my suggestion that “Westminster will provide the opt out” in the event of a Scottish independence Yes vote (They want total control; SN 9/6/15).

I hate to rouse him from his own “Scots wha hae…” delirium, but had sufficient Scots voted for devolution in 1979, the question had already been discussed at UK Cabinet level and Faroese-style autonomy was being seriously considered as a preferable option to direct rule from London.

 They were considering it then because the Liberal MP Jo Grimond had “demanded” it. Could we depend on Danus Skene to “demand” Faroese-style autonomy in 2018?

I think not.

John Tulloch
Lyndon
Arrochar