I UNDERSTAND and now share the concerns many have expressed about the SNP. However, it is more critical than ever for all supporters of independence to consider the broader impact of our votes at this crucial time.

The power of the Scottish people is immense, but the most effective way to harness this power is through the ballot box. Remember how the massive All Under One Banner marches received virtually no media coverage? When mentioned, their significance was downplayed. Demonstrations, no matter their size, are too easily overlooked by both the media and Westminster. Voting for the SNP is the single best way to show our desire for independence.

The British establishment is desperate to undermine the SNP by any means possible. Voting for the SNP, especially after the turbulent past 12 months, sends a clear message: “We see you, we understand your tactics, and we won’t stand for it.”
The SNP’s role in independence is crucial. Their presence in both the Scottish and UK parliaments is the clearest measure of support we can show. Any decline in their number of MPs, MSPs or overall votes will be used by Unionists and the media to claim that the desire for independence is at an end.

We cannot let that narrative take hold. Having politicians who advocate for independence rather than Unionists who deny us our rights means we can advance; otherwise, we hit a brick wall.

As “The Dug” wrote in The National last week, further attacks on devolution and conventions are imminent, and our parliament could be dissolved if a Labour Party under Starmer gains a substantial majority. This could delay our independence – keeping us chained to Westminster rule – indefinitely, or until Scotland’s natural resources are depleted.

We need the SNP to hold off Unionist advances while Salvo and other leaders build our case and propel us toward independence.

Thatcher’s government instilled in me a deep loathing for the Tory party. Yet, I recognise that politics is about priorities. My priority is Scottish independence. If the Tories offered the best chance to achieve that, despite my feelings towards them, I would vote for  the Tories. That’s setting my priorities straight.

Onwards to independence.

GG
Prestwick

PAUL Gillon has got it right in his letter to the Sunday National. In the face of the genocide being committed by Israeli forces in Gaza, the Scottish Government has a clear understanding of the issue, and a progressive policy to bring peace and a longer-term solution to the problem which would benefit the people in both countries.

It is, however, being held back by the Union from implementing such a policy and taking a positive international lead.

The SNP government must, however, persevere in its efforts to bring sanity to the Commons in spite of the underhand conduct of the Tory and Labour parties on this important issue. The Scottish Government led the way by pressing for a ceasefire in Gaza, which the UK Government had to reluctantly follow. They should continue to demand that the UK stop supplying arms to Israel while the genocide continues, and again the UK will be forced to follow that policy.

The Scottish Government must stick to its current policy on Gaza and must use every pressure it can on our undemocratic system to demand that the UK get into line, before it is once again forced into line by international pressure.

Andy Anderson
Ardrossan

IN recent days we have seen from all the to-ing and fro-ing of our unelected Foreign Secretary that the government in London has no significant influence over the Israeli state. Indeed during his visit to Tel Aviv last Wednesday David Cameron, Baron of Chipping Norton, was thanked by Prime Minister Netanyahu for his support for Israel. This is a clear indication of British complicity in Israeli crimes against international law including plausible breaches of the Genocide Convention.

If the London government will not end its complicity in Israeli crimes by bringing the arms trade with Israel to an immediate stop and distancing itself from Israel in all other respects then we in Scotland must demand that we are released from the toxic Union so that we can take an appropriate moral stance on the world stage.

Ni Holmes
St Andrews

SO according to Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Iran does not have the right to retaliate against Israel for its attack on its consulate. Israel does have the right to retaliate for the October 7 atrocity.

It is now being said by Cameron that the response by Israel was not proportionate – surely the events in Gaza cannot be called proportionate either. It seems there is one rule for Israel and another for Iran.

This is what war is and does to the innocent victims who have no say in what is happening.

Winifred McCartney
Paisley

ANY Dundee fan hoping to get an idea of how their team had played in Wednesday’s encounter with Rangers by reading Matthew Lindsay’s account of the match in Thursday’s National would have been left none the wiser. Almost everything Matthew had to say was about Rangers, and even the two match photos were from behind the Dundee goal featuring the Ibrox men on the attack! On pages 36-37 the bulk of the focus was on Celtic. I would suggest that in future the football pages in The National should be titled “Old Firm News”!

Alan Woodcock
Dundee