Are the SNP taking my vote for granted like Labour used to?
Unionists will vote tactically as usual, anyone but the SNP, and for others still wavering, the over-simplified 'change' mantra may help swing their votes. But the big question has to be: to whom? The stage is even more crowded with Reform UK, Galloway and Corbyn. With that new mix to pick from, Labour's hope of hoovering up the disenchanted from the SNP/pro-indy fold is long gone.
Are Reform sufficiently established not to be considered the one-man Farage band, and just what traction is there in Scotland for the 'I'm not racist, but ...' line?
No matter the Workers Party name, George is still the main attraction, even with Yvonne Ridley throwing her hat in the ring. I doubt their focus will genuinely be on the future of Scotland, more the failure of Labour to stand against genocide.
Call me a cynic, but it would appear they've carefully chosen their constituencies, but with what in mind? An anti-genocide protest vote going their way?
And as for Jeremy? Engaging as he was when I doorstepped him, I don't think his notion of a new party in Scotland that offers an alternative to the 'control freaks' of Labour and the 'dangerously divisive' politics of Reform UK will do more than split votes the same as Reform and the Workers Party will do.
In turn, splitting the vote shouldn't detract from the fact that these parties, and what they claim to stand for, will get votes, something we ignore at our peril.
That cynic in me suspects that as ever Scotland will be a testing ground, three parties testing the electorate before the next UK General Election.
So where is independence in all of this? I'd agree that if the SNP and various politicians haven't secured that miraculous indy majority until now, why will they do so this time round? Sadly, no matter how hard the Yes grassroots worked in the run-up to the referendum, we didn't manage it either.
I've subsequently heard it said often enough that with a date set for a referendum, the gang would get back together again. That's not going to happen!
Over the years I've never consciously wasted my vote and I've voted every time. But I'm beginning to consider myself voting fodder for the SNP, the way Labour took so many of us for granted in the past.
However, come 2026 I'd rather have the SNP in Holyrood than Unionists dismantling what devolution and mitigation has been hard won.
The grassroots/Yes movement and civic society need to come together, speaking out with the (very broad) independence message. It's a message that requires examination, interrogation and participation as wide as possible. How do we get that going?
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh
I AM baffled that any local council keeps its disabled toilet locked (FM urged to act on illegal toilet locks, Aug 14). Is the lock on the toilet one that doesn't allow disabled people to use their special RADAR keys? If that's the situation then they are blatantly breaking the law.
I understand they wouldn't want the toilets vandalised but they should have locks that allow access with disabled people's keys, which are available to all disabled people. AGAIN I must stress that this council may be breaking the law!
Anne Smart
Glasgow
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