3 days ago
Lots more fleshing out of the ‘how and when' for indy will be required
Independence is not for me but for the people of Scotland, and that dream must be realised within a feasible timescale as part of a clear and defined plan.
My take from Tuesday's National, particularly the sentiment from the letters pages, is that of disappointment. Disappointment we do not have that clarity and the plan; disappointment we are still not shouting out the benefits of independence and the many downsides of today's Union; disappointment with the lack of vision; disappointment with lack of inspired campaigning; disappointment that the constitutional convention is not in place; disappointment that independence – the raison d'etre of the SNP – has not been promoted as we continue to persuade the undecided, primarily through good governance. After 18 years, how many more years do we need? Do we really believe this will translate into a few more percentage points for independence no matter what the Unionists throw at us?
READ MORE: SNP's losing strategy for by-election took the electorate for fools
Voting SNP1 and SNP2 is seen as a folly. Perhaps one for James Kelly – how many independence-supporting MSPs do we get by voting SNP1 and SNP2 compared with SNP1 and Green or Alba or other as vote 2? That clarity might help me and other voters.
James Dornan MSP advocates keeping John Swinney, recognising the SNP and John's achievements.
I see no advantage in change at this point. However, James says that we must put indy left, right and centre. He implies good governance over the years. He does not properly explain why indy has not been to the fore and kept to the fore of late.
James says a referendum will follow a pro-indy majority. I suggest a lot more fleshing out of 'exactly how and when' is needed, together with a detailed plan to counter the many obstacles that lie ahead, courtesy of the overwhelming pro-Union media, the other political parties and the establishment.
I will remain optimistic that independence will be achieved. It would be good to see a new citizens' convention or constitutional convention in place and positive contributors such as Believe in Scotland and Common Weal help drive independence.
Ken Howells
Longniddry
IN his letter 'Will the SNP once again seek 'both votes'?' (June 10), James Duncan refers to the 'stupid call for 'Both votes SNP'' and ... and the possibility of 'list voters being encouraged to vote for other independence-supporting candidates on the list'.
There was a letter published in The National on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 which explained why this is not possible.
READ MORE: The SNP can't suggest we use our second votes for a different party
James may be thinking of what is called 'apparentement' in mainland Europe, in which electoral law permits political parties to form alliances for an election campaign. Such an arrangement is not permissible by current electoral law here.
If such an arrangement was possible, the result of the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021 could have been more than 75% of the seats with almost 49% of the vote – not very democratic.
If a political party has the highest quotient at any time during the calculations for allocation of list seats, it MUST be allocated that seat even if it has all of the constituency seats in a region.
Michael Follon
Glenrothes
MORE smoke and mirrors from the Labour Party and the UK Government.
From my recollection, this is the third time the UK Government has proclaimed financial backing for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project (proposed 20 years ago) but there is still no money on the table. While tens of billions of pounds continue to flow into projects south of the Border, Scotland is supposed to be grateful for the UK Government now declaring financial support for the Edinburgh exascale supercomputer a year after it cancelled funding. Increased public spending commitments have been cynically hailed by Labour Party politicians without reference to projected inflation increases or different spending choices made north and south of the Border.
READ MORE: Fraser of Allander calls out Labour's Spending Review claim
To cap it all, Governor Murray now hypocritically says that the Scottish Government did not spend last year's budget increase 'wisely' when much of it was spent on increased public-sector wages while the Scottish Government also continued to mitigate the effects of Westminster-imposed austerity. Or has the 'Governor' (also referred to by some as the 'Viceroy') now abandoned the last vestiges of socialist principles he presumably once held?
If that is the case, why are Scottish trade unions still supporting a Labour Party that in government continues to betray the poor and disadvantaged in Scotland while also being complicit in the continuing slaughter and devastation in Gaza?
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
THE words of the UK Chancellor 'we are renewing Britain' were heard in the House of Commons on Wednesday, yet what followed left questions unanswered. The Chancellor announced a 0.8% increase to Scotland's block grant, yet most UK Government departments were allocated more than 2%, prompting the question 'where is Scotland's 2%'?
Catriona C Clark
Falkirk
