SIR, Chairing a discussion at a final session in the Edinburgh book Festival, Alex Salmond returned again to what led to the referendum result, explaining he had a 'blind spot’ on the BBC’s indyref coverage.


Clearly the former First Minister finds it very difficult to understand how people could disagree with him, and needs to look for someone to blame. 


He and others in the SNP have pointed the finger variously at BBC bias, a lack of impartiality in the media generally, the 'fear’ factor, the Treasury, older people, women, the English, business people, the list goes on and on.

Yet there is another possible explanation of the outcome. Given the campaign lasted for so long, and was so intense, it is possible that the 3.6 million people who voted really knew what they were doing. They realised all the information being thrown at them reflected different viewpoints.


While some of this, taken in isolation, even from the most balanced of sources, could be judged to have reflected a partial stance, that was soon enough countered by others with the alternate view. Ultimately, the electorate heard it all and then made up their own minds.


When two million people said 'No’ it was no doubt for a range of factors, but they all thought they were doing the right thing. Alex Salmond seems unable to accept that. Perhaps that is his real 'blind spot’.


I am, etc.
Keith Howell, West Linton