IF Scottish Tory MSP Annie Wells thinks people lost patience with the SNP a long time ago, and that Nicola Sturgeon gave a tired speech which has run out of ideas, then Annie Wells really has run out of things to say herself by having to resort to ancient Tory opposition spin.
So far as any reckoned impatience is concerned, you only have to look at the figures for our marches and rallies. Over the last two years attendance has increased not just by hundreds, but by tens of thousands. Next year we start again in Glasgow in May, then Galashiels, Inverness, Ayr, Campbeltown, Aberdeen, Perth, finishing in the capital again next October. That’s every month in between. Impatience? I don’t think so.
As for the First Minister’s lack of ideas, that is a total insult to what her speech contained. For an hour, she told us of policies that are being rolled out and those happening soon. She reiterated achievements since the SNP had been in government, like the several thousand council houses, which compares to the few when Labour was in power. And we now have free university education, free prescriptions, seven-day bus passes for the elderly, and much much more.
Unlike student nurses in England, those in Scotland receive sizeable bursaries that are set to rise in two stages to £10,000 in 2020. Homeless people are to be given financial help through the Social Bite charity amounting to £6.5 million. And we are still receiving EU support, this time for small and medium-sized businesses, worth £18m. Running out of ideas? I don’t think so.
Annie Wells needs to wake up to what is going on around her and her Scottish Tory party in Holyrood, and even maybe compare it to what her masters are doing in Westminster, which is not an awful lot.
Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife
READ MORE: Sturgeon tells SNP party conference: Scottish independence is close
MY thanks to Richard Walker, editor of the Sunday National, and the National Roadshow team who visited Bannockburn yesterday evening. It was a fitting ending to the SNP conference. The only disillusionment I suffered was that the “Wee Ginger Dug” is not wee but the size of a Labrador!
For those of my fellow-travellers toward an independent Scotland who may still be feeling frustrated at the lack of a date for indyref2, I would offer this analogy as heard on Radio Scotland this morning: Nicola has led us to the mountain top to show us the promised land but the top is shrouded in mist. As any experienced hillwalker and mountaineer knows, it’s foolish indeed – and very dangerous – not to wait until the mists clear before proceeding. We’ve waited this long. Only a couple more hours for the sun to burn it away. It calls for staying power and there’s plenty to do while we wait.
Janet Cunningham
Stirling
WE hear a lot about “the right time”. This is an elusive concept. The political imperative is to do the work to be ready for the right time when it presents itself and to have the political leaders who recognise this politically fleeting moment and are fully prepared to dart us through that open door. The SNP has to mount a continuous campaign for independence from now.
David McEwan Hill
Argyll
READ MORE: Letters: What are we doing to get the vote out?
THE growth in support for Scotland’s independence is plain to see, and there exists a mandate for a future plebiscitary decision by the Scottish people.
The Act of Union was essentially a contract between two independent nations. Since its enactment there have occurred many instances of the abandonment or disregard by the Westminster establishment of the fundamental terms of that contract, sufficiently to cause its vitiation. Furthermore, the treaty conferred no right ad infinitum to the incumbent of the office of PM to give effect to personal opinions regarding now a wish for Scotland to recover its sovereignty. That incumbent, after all, is here today and gone tomorrow. Is that personal opinion to be given preference against the expressed wish of millions of people? The present Union has no written constitution and where, therefore, is the mandate which would “allow” that preference to be exercised?
Westminster itself has caused the turmoil it is now in and it is likely that its latest originator will simply dance or walk away as did another before. What is certain is that Scotland’s government will not walk away from its responsibilities to promote the best interests of the people of Scotland.
J Hamilton
Bearsden
MARTIN Geraghty (Letters, October 9) is right in saying that a large number of supporters of a certain football club will be forever be blinded by Unionism and sectarianism. However I think it is important that it be made clear to those on the outside that those of us who also support that club (I have for 60 years) do our bit to dispel the perception that we all “toe the party line”.
I was proud to be affiliated to the banner Mr Geraghty alludes to. So, if you will excuse the phrase, Mr Geraghty, independence is a “broad church” – let’s embrace all groups who support it.
Derek Attfield
Port Glasgow
READ MORE: Letters: Football colours have no place at Yes marches
JUST to inform Martin Geraghty that there are many pro-independence Rangers supporters. We are not all Union Jack-waving, national anthem-singing Unionists or bigots. I have supported Rangers for over 40 years and Scottish independence for nearly as long. I assume Mr Geraghty wants an all-inclusive independent Scotland to exclude all Rangers supporters!!
William Milne
Rothes, Moray
I AGREE with Mr Geraghty that it is best not to bring football into the All Under One Banner group, but I strongly disagree with his bigoted description of Rangers fans.
Annie Keith
Lothians
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