Your correspondent Ronnie Cowan is true to form (‘Don’t
confuse policies’, 10th June).
There was no need for him to spell out his credentials. I
have had his card marked for some time. As well as being Organiser of the local
Yes Scotland campaign group he is a prominent member of Inverclyde SNP.
His side swipe at me being “a paid politician” was rather petty.
For the record, in addition to being an elected politician, I hold down a full
time job as Assistant Chief Executive of a Glasgow housing association. I am
well acquainted with what goes on in the real world.
I am disappointed that Mr Cowan sought to distort my
position on the Union. Contrary to what he stated, my entire argument for staying
in the Union is not “we haven’t done badly out of it and that we are valued
contributors”.
I will be voting against separation on 18 September 2014 for
one principal reason: I am British.
I was not born with a chip on my shoulder. Neither was I
born with an innate sense of grievance against the English. I have never seen
Scotland as a subjugated nation.
My politics are not based on narrow nationalism but on my
Christian beliefs and a desire to build a fairer and more just society.
When I joined the Labour Party 30 years ago I joined the
British Labour Party. When I became a trade unionist 27 years ago I joined the
British Trade Union Movement.
I came into politics to change my country for the better:
not to change countries.
The UK is far from perfect. We still have a long way to go
to build our ‘New Jerusalem’.
As a Socialist and member of the British Labour Movement I
want to see greater social justice across these islands and not just on this side
of the English border. That is what sets me apart from those on the left who
think separation is a short cut to a Socialist paradise.
Mr Cowan finishes his letter with a plea to readers not to
confuse SNP Policy with the Yes Campaign. This demonstrates the fundamental
contradiction at the heart of the separation movement.
The SNP – which Mr Cowan is a member of – are at pains to
reassure Scots that little will change after independence. We will keep the
pound and the Queen. We will remain in NATO and we will still be able to watch Eastenders
and X-Factor.
Others in Yes Scotland want to ditch the pound and the Queen
and take Scotland out of NATO. Who knows they might even want to stop us watching
Eastenders and X-Factor!
Faced with this contradiction, and the failure of the SNP to
provide convincing answers to legitimate questions, the separatists are
increasingly asking the people of Scotland to take a leap of faith. Trust us
they plead: we know what we’re doing.
We will find out on 19th September 2014 if the peoples of Scotland
are prepared to take a leap into the unknown. I pray not.
Thanks to all the separatists for the comments posted. I of course can't provide you with a platform to attack my country but please keep posting as I'm enjoying reading them.
ReplyDeleteI thank the separatists for their continuing comments. You simply can't understand why so many of us Scots also feel British, can you? You have no respect for our views and no respect for our country. You see us as traitors. You are stuck in the past: a Scotland that existed long before any of us were born.
ReplyDeleteThe more you attack me and my views the greater my resolve to campaign to keep Scotland in the Union.
Interested to read about Christianity informing your unionism Stephen. I'd like to know more about this!
ReplyDeleteI think what I said - let me check now Tom - was it is the basis of my politics. Christianity and Socialism are perfectly compatible for me. Have a good day.
ReplyDelete