An emphatic 2026 win for the SNP will mean no excuses for inaction
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon: Alex Salmond 'did not read' 2014 independence paper
From Tommy's words, it appears that my personal interpretation of John Swinney's intentions regarding a constitutional convention – as being consistent with the creation of a widely-inclusive citizen's convention – was wrong. However, if we wish to gain broad public support for the next step on our journey to independence then, in addition to progressing an open citizens' convention, independence parties should have the commitment to establishing the legal authority of the Scottish Parliament to conduct a constitutional referendum clearly stated as a primary clause in their manifestos, backed up by stated actions to ensure that authority is granted to Holyrood. Otherwise, unless independence can be achieved in the meantime by alternative actions, the next Westminster General Election must be declared a de facto referendum.
Offering another perspective to the dilemmas confronting 'Old John' and Jim Taylor (Letters, Aug 11), and no doubt many others, the more emphatic an SNP victory, the less excuse the SNP hierarchy will have for not taking substantive actions in support of a public mandate. This approach may be considered hypocritical by some if they do not support the route to independence advocated by the current First Minister, but to vote otherwise in the knowledge that it could bring about a Labour government in Holyrood would seem a betrayal to most who are absolutely committed to independence.
Better to give neither the First Minister nor the Prime Minister any excuse for not delivering, or for further delaying, the means of exercising the right of Scotland's people to determine their own future.
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
TRUMP'S views on a deal with Putin over Ukraine seems like a deal between 18th-century aristocrats settling their gambling debts.
Trump acts like an18th-century monarch. No consideration is given to the views of residents of the possible transfer areas, who are merely insignificant chequers in a high-stakes gambling deal.
It seems reminiscent of the Act of Union, whereby the ruling elite in Scotland agreed to a union with England against the will of the general populace.
READ MORE: David Pratt: Are Trump and Putin about to stitch up Ukraine?
Trump will no doubt gain whatever happens, and Ukraine will suffer, being back under a modern Russian Czar. President Trump will parade as a peacemaker, and his sycophants (with usual brown envelopes pocketed) will propose him for a Nobel Peace Prize which he desires, hypocrite that he is.
What's changed in politics since the 18th century? Modern democracy seems little more than a sham, with elites still in charge.
Current political parties seem little more than a means for the current elites to maintain control under a pretext of democracy. Where is real limitation of elector funding? The exist many ways to get round and buy elections.
If you're in the know, it seems funding is unrestricted. The current government in the UK, as well as the previous one, seem uninterested in altering the present set-up, as they both benefit from it.
Drew Reid
Falkirk
YOUR article 'PM claims people feeling 'better off'' by Hamish Morrison (Aug 7) presents the reader with the classic case of 'the ventriloquist has died but the dummy keeps talking'!
The 'dummy' tells us that his government is 'bearing down' on costs and 'putting more money into people's pockets'. Yes, the pockets of his sponsors, big businesses and fellow Labour parliamentarians, definitely NOT those of the people of the country!
Since Labour came to power, the 'dummy' has increased the weekly shopping costs by as much as 40%. The facts reveal 'disposable income' is falling! It's not falling, it's PLUMMETING in an ever-increasing spiral into those same pockets that enabled Starmer to become PM.
The answer is to tax the super-rich and get them to pay their fair share. Everyone knows 'Starmer the dummy' will never do that because HE is one of the super rich along with his cronies who sit beside him on the government benches.
As for 'the focus will be on living standards', these are also PLUMMETING under his watch. Everybody and anybody in the 'vulnerable' category will be forced to pay more tax but not the wealthy pals, sponsors and big businesses who back this 'dummy'.
I don't ever see 'Rachel from Accounts' do anything to help anyone other than herself and the 'dummy'.
It's time the dummy was put back in the box and a real person with a spine and a conscience took over – or better still, let Scotland leave this Westminster pantomime.
Jim Todd
Cumbernauld
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