BORIS Johnson and his fellow MPs representing English constituencies are lining up to make it clear that Scotland will be denied a referendum irrespective of the wishes of the Scottish electorate. Douglas Ross, the Unionist representative in Scotland, has of course confirmed that view.
British nationalists should not be setting the narrative in any way, shape or form in a Scottish referendum. That decision is Scotland’s alone. Westminster will only agree to issues that will benefit their interests.
Unionists are becoming very extreme with real hatred towards people in Scotland who argue for independence. They are being backed by the media, with the BBC doing a sterling job giving more and more airtime to the perpetrators. Mark Twain would have merged into the British media hierarchy with his advice “get your facts first, and then you can distort them as you please.”
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All political parties, irrespective of country, have factions that push their own beliefs and, of course, oppositions play on that weakness. The most depressing fact about our troubles is that they have been self-inflicted by some talented parliamentarians. When you get SNP MPs using the most vile language and going out of their way to damage the reputation of fellow nationalists over non-independence issues, they are doing harm to the cause. To then have some of the First Minister’s colleagues join people from other parties in signing and circulating a letter with the intention of smearing an outstanding independence stalwart is beyond the pale.
We all know what it is regarding, and it is not independence. If the First Minister and the leader of the Westminster group are going to ignore this type of behaviour, you cannot blame Joanna Cherry for defending herself. There is a constitution to deal with this type of offence – it should have been used. We are a broad church and the Scottish electorate has cast its vote, in the main, to bring about an independent country.
It is certainly not to bring about hate crime legalisation, which has brought division within and outwith the SNP, or to make the self-ID issue the main bone of contention just before an election.
Good leadership within the independence movement means listening to other opinions and not just those who pay homage to you. Differences of opinion can be our strength, and it only becomes a weakness when other issues become more important than independence. Hopefully, our new NEC will bring transparency that will ensure disagreements can be aired without recourse to eliminate anyone who doesn’t fit into the new archetype of belief held by those who espouse its doctrine.
Abraham Lincoln said: “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent.” No man or woman has a monopoly of wisdom. I accept that there are members within the SNP who hero-worship the First Minister and they have every right to do so. She is one very talented politician, but they are acting like fans rather than colleagues.
Bill Clark
Fort William
HOW timely was the barking of the Wee Ginger Dug that “It’s not the grassroots that need to wheesht for indy” (December 8). Like him, I am angry and dismayed by the SNP politicians – they know who they are – who insist on airing their differences with other SNP politicians in the public arena.
READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: It’s not the grassroots that need to ‘wheesht for indy’
Aren’t they aware of the damage they are doing to the cause of independence for Scotland as supporters like me become disheartened by it all and our enemies rub their hands with glee at the ammunition supplied them? Am I the only one who moans, “Oh, not again!” as yet another of our prominent ones gets it off their chest in public at the expense of another of our prominent ones?
When, oh when, are they going to share their differences in private and, if need be, agree to disagree? When, oh when, for the good of the cause we all support, will they take a vow of silence so far as letting the whole world in on their issues is concerned?
Rev Douglas Whyte
Dalbeattie
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