Why continue stirring? (Kathy Greaves)
"Yes" voters need to understand – voters in Scotland, in a free and democratic vote of over-16s on 18th September, with not just the terms of the referendum set by the SNP, but also the wording of the one question we voted on, “Should Scotland be an independent country?” – that they did not win the vote.
The majority of voters in Scotland said "no" to devolution and separation from the rest of the United Kingdom, with two thirds of Shetlanders voting against the motion.
The same day that results of the referendum became known Alex Salmond resigned as leader of the SNP; following the defeat of their prolonged and shouty campaign he did not give in gracefully, but sent a deliberate message to his more aggressive followers by adding to his short speech that it was "for now".
Sorry, "yes" voters, the question was not “Should Scotland be an independent country for now?”, so why do they continue to follow Alex Salmond’s dream by stirring it with their endless programme of protests, disruption and upset amongst families and friends?
Scotland already has control of much of its spending – the Scottish NHS allows huge amounts of its income to be used in providing free car parking at hospitals and free prescriptions to all, rather than on actual medication such as urgently needed drugs for over a hundred women in Scotland dying of breast cancer today.
Who knows what spending they might prioritise if they had full fiscal powers. I would not want any of my hard earned money taken in taxes in any way to cover huge Scottish government overspends such as on the Scottish parliament building – and what are they spending our (Shetland’s) £30million housing refund on?
Kathy Greaves
Caergarth,
Scatness,
Virkie.