Letters: Independence would give the Labour Party freedom

Britain’s rich and powerful, who historically vote Conservative, must be ecstatic at how most of their Scottish critics will be divided by party politics come referendum day.

Long before Labour voters abandoned their party in droves for the SNP, I can well remember Labour telling the Scottish people that any vote other than for Labour was simply a boost for the Tories.

My, how times have changed. When we finally have the opportunity of ridding Scotland of the Tories for ever, Ed Miliband and Johann Lamont now tell their faithful not just to vote against independence, but also to accept Tory ideological opposition to the hard-won progressive policies of the Scottish Government.

Because the Labour Party is effectively divided in two, I urge traditional Labour supporters to break ranks and ‘lend’ their support to the progressive ‘Yes’ campaign.

After independence, the political landscape of Scotland will change. Perhaps the ‘real’ Labour Party might take over from a redundant SNP.

Jack Fraser, Clayknowes Drive, Musselburgh

Nurses should be put in the middle

I WAS deeply sorry to read about the incident at the Western General and really sorry for both sets of relatives (Crazed patient in hospital ward attack, News, October 22).

However, this surely goes back to the planners of these new hospitals, especially the elderly dementia patients.

The sooner we get back to the old-style wards with the nurses stationed in the middle, the better.

I must say my husband was five weeks in the Western and the staff were kindness itself.

Marjory Robertson, Muirfield Drive, Gullane

Junction doesn’t need traffic lights

What a pleasure it was drive through the Gogarburn junction around noon on Thursday: the sun was shining, traffic was light – and the traffic lights were not working.

Drivers just treated it like any other roundabout – look to the right, if you see anything coming, wait and, if not, go.

Of course, the lights round the Gogarburn junction are needed when it’s busy, especially during the rush hours. But what is the point of them at night when you can guarantee that the traffic will be light?

Indeed, in the middle of the night you may be the only vehicle using the junction, and yet you may be stopped repeatedly to get through this one junction.

In the built-up parts of Edinburgh the traffic lights are for the benefit of pedestrians as well as for other drivers.

But the Gogarburn junction doesn’t have appreciable foot traffic, as the lack of zebra crossings confirms.

I suggest that as a trial the traffic lights on the Gogarburn junction should be switched off each night for three months from 8pm until 6am the next morning.

Otto Inglis, Inveralmond Grove, Edinburgh