The Independence debate

At the Voice, we feel that the referendum on Scottish independence is a vitally important issue. The issues involved will affect all of us, and the debate deserves more than an exchange of sound-bites and photos of drunks draped in saltires.

The Yes faction on Arran has been quick off the mark, with various vehicles emblazoned with the word, YES, in large capitals. Our editor spotted a single NO van in Lamlash car-park the other day, but in general, the Yes group has got off to a flying start. This may be because Arran contains an unusual number of free-thinking creative people – a factor noted with distaste by Kenneth Roy, editor of the online Scottish Review. He observed that writers and artists were prominent in the Yes campaign – ‘the people you would be least inclined to trust.’ Well, thank you, Kenneth.

John Inglis, who contributes the following statement in favour of the Yes campaign, is indeed an artist, but he also chairs the Arran Community Council and is active in almost every island concern.

We are anxious to offer an equal opportunity for supporters of the No campaign to publicise their views, and will welcome contributions. Simply e-mail us on infor@voiceforarran.com