THE expulsion of Ian Blackford from the Chamber by the smirking Speaker John Bercow and the offensive and insulting comments thrown by other “Honourable Members” to the SNP contingent as they walked out in protest are not to be tolerated.

If it wasn’t blindingly obvious before, then it should be by now that the UK Government and the UK Parliament have nothing but contempt and disdain for the people of Scotland.

Well enough is enough. It is now clear that, with the best will in the world, SNP representation in Westminster achieves little if anything to advance the case for Scottish independence. These diligent, well-meaning and hard-working individuals are, to put it bluntly, an irrelevance. No matter how they vote or how much they protest and fulminate at the actions and policies of the UK Government, they are always going to be outnumbered 10 to one and they will always, ultimately achieve … nothing.

The only political institution that is currently relevant to Scotland is the Sottish Parliament, but it’s now becoming clearer with every passing day that under any Tory government, the future relevance of that parliament – indeed its very existence – is in jeopardy.

So what is required now is drastic, aggressive and courageous action by the Scottish Government. It is time to strike while the enemy is confused and divided. The Tories are in chaos over Brexit. UK Labour is similarly disordered and the Liberal Democrats are pretty much inconsequential.

I agree very much with what the Wee Ginger Dug suggested a while back about what to do if Theresa May says no to another indyref – and let’s face it, she or her successor will never likely agree to another referendum. The only argument I have with the Dug is that I believe that we should do it sooner rather than later.

The SNP government should not wait till 2021 to hold an election when it might be too late, but immediately initiate steps to dissolve the Scottish Parliament and call an election as soon as possible. All pro-independence candidates (of whatever party) should stand on a one-policy platform, that policy being independence. It should be made crystal clear to the electorate that a vote for a pro-independence candidate is a vote for an independent Scotland and if a majority of pro-independence candidates are successful then the Scottish Government then elected will have a clear mandate to declare independence. No referendum, no ifs and no buts.

And if it’s not successful at this election then there’s always another chance at the next one in four years’ time, and the one after that and so on. That is, of course, if there is such a thing as a Scottish Parliament in four years’ time. It’s a risky strategy but one to which the Scottish Government should, I feel, give serious and urgent thought.

This “Precious Union” no longer serves Scotlands best interests – it’s time to confine it to history.

Alex Henderson
Bearsden

WEEL, weel fit tae mak o it aa? Naewan wi ony wuts wuid expect the Tories tae dae ocht else, an oor smeddumless Secretary o State heas nae perception o the fact he’ll gang doun in history as haunmaiden tae his Inglis mistress. But that Corbyn’s Labour shuid admit tae aabiddie that thay are irrelevant an nae vote at aa is bambazin!

Thay ostrich-brained eedjits may jalouse that Brexit is takin Inglan bek tae the Inglis, but its nae. It’s takin poo’er tae the Inglis upper cless an awa frae the warkin cless faa thay are suppose tae represent. Fan Brexit hits hame, faa’s gaein tae suffer? Weel nae thay spylt brats o millionaires o the Tory Wastmeinster delusionists. The SNP memmers o the Commons richtly walkit oot. Thay shuid bide awa aathegither. Yon hous disnae represent onywan but thirsels.

George T Watt
Arbroath