SIR, As well as the moral argument for respecting the autonomy of individuals; I have long held that in general, giving people responsibility encourages them to behave responsibly. So it is, I think, with societies and that one of the moral arguments for self-determination is that it engenders responsible citizenship and responsible citizens. But as one of the supporters of the Union and of the status quo argued at the BBC Any Questions debate in Melrose last month, the Union has failed Scots in that it has effectively infantalised Scotland. As another panellist in Melrose argued how can we be ‘better together’ in a society with such inequalities that the average male life expectancy in parts of Glasgow is 58? We have a moral duty to tackle inequality in our society and the Union has failed to do live up to this.

The Union has had its day, it is past its prime and the status quo is no longer an option. Voters on Thursday do not know what a No vote will bring. We have been told of £25 billion more cuts to come and we have been promised more devolution. But we were promised more powers if we voted No to devolution in 1979, and nothing came – delaying that project for 20 years. The events of 2014 in Scotland have changed politics in these islands for ever; so a No vote will not be a vote for any status quo.

A morally consistent position is to respect the responsibility of individual citizens and live up to our duty to tackle inequalities and help the weakest in our communities. The status quo has served us badly in these respects and is no longer a viable option. We should now vote for Independence.

I am, etc.

Stuart Bell Scottish National Party group leader Scottish Borders Council