Sir,
In any area of life, you can make yourself unpopular by saying, “I told you so.”
However, when the issue at stake is as important as the future of our country, these
unpopular words just have to be said.
Just two years ago, in the run up to the Independence Referendum, the Scottish people
were bombarded with promises and guarantees by the “No” campaign.
These included:
- Protection for the disabled in the UK Welfare State;
- A £200bn oil boom which would be put at risk by a “Yes” vote;
- Job security for Scottish tax offices;
- Security for pensions within the UK;
- ·13 Type 23 Royal Navy frigates to be built on the Clyde;
- And, of course, the continued security of EU membership, which, we were told, would
be sacrificed by a “Yes” vote.
Let’s have a look at each of these promises in turn:
- Government welfare changes have meant nearly 14,000 disabled people have had their
disabled cars taken away;
- The oil industry has lost 65,000 jobs, according to the BBC Website;
- HMRC centres in East Kilbride, Dundee and Cumbernauld are under threat with the loss
of over 3,000 jobs;
- Westminster pension reforms mean that most Scottish men will not live long enough
to receive a state pension;
- There is continued doubt over the Royal Navy frigate order;
- Despite a sizeable Scottish majority for “Remain” we will be dragged out of the EU
as a result of the vote in England.
The above examples only represent a fraction of the threats, scaremongering, broken
promises and lies used by the “No” campaign. However, the case for Scottish independence
remains strong. As we anticipate a re-opening of that debate, it is important to
bear in mind the tactics used by the Unionist campaign last time. Therefore, I make
no apology for appearing to say, “I told you so.”
Margaret Martin
55 Vatisker,
Isle of Lewis.
Letters: Told you so
29 July 2016