BACK in 1997 I successfully moved a resolution at SNP conference for a future independent Scotland to hold a referendum on the monarchy. Since then, understandably, this plan has been put on the back burner. The topic of republicanism has gone out of fashion as debate has moved on to more immediate constitutional matters. One referendum at a time!

Calum MacLeoid makes some good points in his Gaelic column (Cha tig poblachd gun strì agus gun deasachaidh, The National, April 3). The current of history is moving away from hereditary monarchies within the countries of the Commonwealth as elsewhere. However, although the passing of the baton (sceptre?) to the next runner might seem the obvious moment to invite the electorate to progress to a more modern system, the establishment (Westminster, the mainstream media, the aristocracy and all) are proven masters at manipulating the emotions of the people.

The choice between a hereditary and an elected head of state should be based on principle and logic. It should not be influenced by the personalities of the present and future incumbents or by the widespread official mourning which will accompany a state funeral.

Republicanism has always found more support in Scotland than in England. Once Scotland is independent, choosing the head of state should be a natural part of developing the kind of country we want to inhabit.

Mary McCabe
Glasgow

I WAS saddened to read Anne Smart’s account of the correlation between religion and warfare (Letters, April 3). Actually, religion and politics are the same thing. In reality, wars are caused by politicians and people. Places of worship become organisations and organisations are political. Jesus of Nazareth did not create religion, people did. Jesus was very critical of the religious leaders of the day, eg the Pharisees and Sadducees, and accused them of hypocrisy.

Jesus preached peace and harmony throughout the world. An all-important commandment of world religion is “thou shalt not kill,” so a person of faith who commits murder makes a terrible mistake.

Nazi Germany, Soviet Russia and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia were atheist states that murdered tens of millions of people. The troubles in Northern Ireland were about a minority ruling over the majority: again that is politics and the solution was political.

Here are some examples of wars and conflicts: the Scottish Wars of Independence, Culloden, the American War of Independence, the Russian Revolution, World War One, World War Two, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and the Cuban Revolution.

Which of these conflicts were caused by religion? The answer is NONE! These conflicts were caused by people and politicians, the right to self-determination, kings and queens, empires, ideologies and human greed.

WJ Graham
East Kilbride

THERE are many letters bouncing back and forward over Brexit and/or indy. It has to stop as it sends out the wrong signal. I am pretty positive the vast majority who voted to leave the EU would not sign up to stay as a county council in the UK when indyref2 happens, regardless of our position with the EU at the time.

The issue for us all is independence and all the good and bad that comes with it. That is the goal: everything else can be solved, but it sure as hell won’t be without independence.

Bryan Auchterlonie
Perthshire