Letter: Fleeing Scots

We keep hearing about "the Scottish cringe" (Perspective, 7 June) and our lack of enterprise. My father (from a poor family) left Scotland for London in the early part of this century.

Having made money in London he came back and started several businesses, with success. Like him, I left Scotland for lack of opportunity and also started up a successful company 8,000 miles away. I came back and helped another successful business.

What is not recognised in the discussion of independence is the huge importance - economically - of keeping our talent here.

That is one of the main reasons why the small Scandinavian countries and Switzerland are successful. That is why London has taken so many of the most able Scots.

We need local power, and that is not a nationalist point. It is a political and democratic one. We need more power for Scotland. It is too far from London.

Duncan Clark

Western Harbour Place

Edinburgh