Sir, There is scant appetite for a second referendum on independence in Scotland— and what little there is is diminishing weekly. Public attention has shifted to job losses in the oil industry, and the crippling cuts in local government expenditure. Above all, there is a seeping awareness in Scotland of what Professor Philip Allot, in his powerful letter to The Times (Feb 27), termed “15 centuries of British history”.
At 7am on the morning after the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, the prime minister blundered by choosing to raise the so-called West Lothian Question from the steps of 10 Downing Street. He may be blundering again by using the threat of a second independence referendum in Scotland in the Brexit debate. I write as one of the dwindling number of surviving MPs who defied the Labour whip and joined Ted Heath in the lobby to enter the Common Market on October 28, 1971.
Tam Dalyell
MP (Lab) West Lothian 1962-83 and Linlithgow 1983-2005, MEP 1975-79
Sir, You report that the prime minister is encouraging the Scots to vote to remain in the EU as to do otherwise might stimulate another referendum on independence (Scottish edition, Mar 1). Fear not, for despite the SNP leaders telling us that the last referendum on independence was a once-in-a-generation opportunity, they will call for another just as soon as they think they can win. Our first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, tells us that Scots wish to remain in the EU, but I’m not sure where she gets that information. In my view, the Scottish people must vote as individuals as they see fit and ignore the politicians of all varieties.
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Professor Colin Davidson
Ardfern, Argyll and Bute
Sir, If the UK votes to leave the EU, and the Scots (as is likely) vote to remain, there will clearly be strong pressure for Scotland to have a second independence referendum, in which a vote for Scottish independence will be seen as a means of staying in the EU. Leaving the EU is therefore very likely to lead to the break-up of the UK. Is that the intention or unintended consequence of Brexit? It will seem to many as a spectacular own goal.
If the choice lies between risking the break-up of the UK and putting up with the disadvantages of membership of the EU (even if these are judged on balance to outweigh the advantages of membership), then there can be no real doubt that our interests will lie in a vote to stay in.
Anthony Isaacs
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Eashing, Surrey
Sir, The SNP seeks independent nationhood for Scotland. This, if achieved, will be economically challenging, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies. At the SNP’s aspirational core is the need for sovereignty, which it contends is lacking in the current Union. Why then does Ms Sturgeon’s party wish to remain in the EU, in opposition to supporters of Brexit, who also seek that same idealised sovereignty? Is it the weakness of the economic argument which is so offputting to the SNP, or something else?
Matthew Parris has previously argued, convincingly, that the UK has a responsibility for the greater good. So, as Ms Sturgeon rides the crest of her popular wave, might she explain her contradictory rationale?
John Frame
Cellardyke, Fife
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Sir, Nicola Sturgeon says that there is a “real chance” of a second independence referendum if Scotland is taken out of the EU against the wishes of a majority of its citizens. It is equally possible that the English will be kept in against the wishes of a majority of English voters by a Scottish and possibly Welsh majority.
In such an event, what should the English do?
Jeremy Westwood
Lewes, E Sussex
OBESITY STRATEGY ‘IS LONG OVERDUE’
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Sir, About a third of children in the UK are overweight or obese. Unless action is taken now, many will grow into overweight or obese adults at higher risk of serious health conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, cancer and poor mental health.
As members of the Obesity Health Alliance, we are extremely disappointed that the government has yet again delayed publishing its childhood obesity strategy. Every day without an effective strategy in place means that opportunities are being missed to protect the health and wellbeing of children and their families. It’s imperative that the government publishes and implements this strategy as a matter of urgency. To be effective it must include: setting targets for manufacturers to make their products healthier; restricting marketing of unhealthy food and drinks to children; and introducing a 20 per cent tax on sugar-sweetened drinks.
Professor John R Ashton, President, UK Faculty of Public Health; Chris Askew, Chief Executive, Diabetes UK; Dr Peter Byrne, Associate Registrar for Public Mental Health, Royal College of Psychiatrists; Alison Cox, Director for Cancer Prevention, Cancer Research UK; Professor Sheila Hollins, Board of Science Chair, British Medical Association; Jane Landon, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Policy, UK Health Forum; Professor Neena Modi, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; John Wass, Special Adviser on Obesity, Royal College of Physicians
SUNDAY TRADING
Sir, Your report “Sunday trading to be extended after SNP ‘deal’ with chancellor” (Feb 29) claims that the temporary suspension of Sunday trading rules for the 2012 Olympics brought a “sales surge” of 3.2 per cent. However, at the time the British Retail Consortium reported no evidence of any Olympic boost to retail sales overall. A more recent study by Oxford Economics concluded that if the change in Sunday trading laws during the Olympics were made permanent it could result in a shift of £870 million of annual sales from convenience stores to large supermarkets, many of which are on out-of-town sites, and a loss of 3,270 retail jobs in England and Wales.
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The cost of the proposals will also be social: shopworkers will lose precious family time and face the challenge of finding and paying for childcare all day on Sundays. Although the proposals for extra protections for shopworkers are welcome, I remain unconvinced that these will be effective. The proposals will further disrupt the rhythms of community life that are integral to the common good and the space for shared time and activities that is central to human flourishing.
As a member of the House of Lords I am also deeply concerned that these measures have been introduced in a bill that has already been through the Lords, thus severely restricting opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny and debate.
The Right Rev Dr Alan Smith
Bishop of St Albans
VAPING AND ADDICTION
Sir, Your leader on e-cigarettes (“Vapid Anti-Vapers”, Mar 1) and the accompanying article (“E-cigarettes hailed for helping 20,000 smokers to kick habit”) misses an important point. Yes, vapers may stop using tobacco, which is good, but these products are effectively designed to maintain one’s addiction to nicotine. We are seeing increasing numbers of young vapers who have never used tobacco. In the long term, those marketing these products are clearly aiming to create a fresh generation of nicotine addicts.
As a pharmacist for more than 44 years, my aim was to get people off tobacco and nicotine.
Dr Brian Curwain
Christchurch, Dorset
ROLE OF THE THEATRE IN EXPOSING TRUTH
Sir, Ann Treneman is appalled by Cleansed (“Relentless snuff play is a torture to watch”, review, Feb 24, and opinion, Feb 27). People walked out, she says. Some fainted. It’s not the violence that Ms Treneman doesn’t like, she says: it’s the dreariness. This all sounds horribly familiar. This is what the critics said about Saved in 1965. This is what they said about Ghosts in 1891. It is what they said about King Lear in New York in 1956.
What’s wrong with a bit of fun, she asks. But life, as we have good reason to know in 2016, is very often far from fun. Who knows what evil lurks in the heart of man? Sarah Kane knew, and she told us with pitiless truthfulness. If the National Theatre isn’t for that, what is it for?
Simon Callow
London N1
CLOSING THE GAP
Sir, An extra hour a day for state schools would make a significant difference not only to academic success but to achievement in sport, music and drama, etc (letters, Feb 29 and Mar 1). The number of hours given to teaching and participation in activities is really where private schools have the advantage, and top state schools such as Mossbourne Academy have emulated this to great advantage in a deprived east London area. The longer day would also greatly benefit working parents.
Judy Heilpern Brown
Stanstead Abbotts, Herts
NHS TAX BREAK
Sir, In reply to James Edmiston (letter, Mar 1), who suggests a tax break for people who pay for private health insurance, who does he expect to provide emergency medical care if this tax break is implemented? Should he or his family be involved in a road traffic accident, be taken seriously ill or injured at school, doubtless an NHS emergency ambulance would be summoned and the patient treated. This service is unlikely to be provided by his private medical insurance, hence the reason for paying taxes that contribute to the NHS.
Andrew Ware
Plymouth, Devon
PUFF OF SMOKE
Sir, The story of the City of Truro speed record of 102.3 mph in 1904 rests entirely on the accuracy and veracity of the recorder, Charles Rous-Marten, and despite its popularity is simply mythology (letter, Feb 29). On the other hand, the record by Flying Scotsman in 1934 was fully authenticated by a dynamometer car recording. To claim to have recorded the speed to a tenth of a mile per hour with the equipment available in 1904 also taxes one’s credulity. City of Truro was a fine locomotive for its time, it is doubtful whether the design capacity of City of Truro could produce enough power to achieve more than 93-94mph flat out on a falling gradient. Sorry to be a spoilsport, but this story has emerged time and time again. It belongs to the fiction section of any library.
Peter J Coster
Vice-president, Gresley Society Trust
CLASH OF THE TITANS
Sir, One way to reduce the incidence of concussion in rugby union (Mar 1) would be for each side to comprise 13 rather than 15 players — ie, no flankers. There would be four fewer players subject to harmful contact, fewer problems with the scrum, and the game would be more open and less attritional. In short, rugby would become less defence-dominated and would allow for greater flair and creativity — elements so lacking in the modern professional game.
B Roberts
Ruthin, Denbighshire
EUROPEAN MAGPIES
Sir, Further to Bruce Parker’s helpful reminder of the use of “Inner” and “Outer” in rifle-shooting terminology (letter, Mar 1), perhaps those of us who are still poised between the two target rings should be referred to as “magpies” — in shooting jargon, neither an Inner nor an Outer.
Malcolm Penny
Acton Green, Herefordshire