IN the UK, democracy is dead. However this tragedy is also a real opportunity for independence supporters. In the run up to the last General Election, some good friends of mine placed large signs around Kinross. Being mid-December, the conditions were poor, for the most part; and not all of those fixing the signs are in the first flush of youth, I think they might agree; but they felt it was their duty to do what they could to get the SNP message out.

Placed in prominent positions, the signs advised the good folks of Ochil and South Perthshire to vote for John Nicolson.

In truth, while there were other candidates, the election was effectively between the sitting Tory MP, Luke Graham, and the SNP. To the gratification of my friends their hard work paid off when Nicolson ousted Graham.

Few doubt that John Nicolson will make a good constituency MP. And even fewer expected to hear of Luke Graham again. (Now let me say at this point I have met Graham on several occasions and, even though our political views are not close, I found him helpful.)

This week, however, Graham re-emerged as a putative adviser to 10 Downing Street.

In short, someone rejected massively by the voters of Ochil and South Perthshire could make decisions on their present and future from an unelected position, where he will be utterly beyond their control. Indeed, he may have more say over what happens to them than their elected MP.

Worse, it is likely that Nicolson may be called upon to mitigate the effects of the policies that Graham and his party are about to visit on his constituents.

In any context this is a democratic outrage. So, you might reasonably expect the other political parties to join the SNP in deploring this and other fresh assaults on democracy. You might expect it, but you’d be wrong.

The Labour Party has doubled up with their only Scottish MP Ian Murray stating another independence referendum is unwelcome as it might be lost. And a Labour leadership candidate has gone further in saying that she “hates the SNP”. Since she did not distinguish between those who are members and those who are SNP sympathisers, by definition she hates most Scots.

This may strike you as an odd way to reach out to those who summarily rejected her party not just in Ochil and South Perthshire but also in the rest of Scotland. I gather she has now retracted her words, but I suspect the damage has been done.

For their part, the LibDems continue to add to the gaiety of the nations in explaining that while they are passionately pro-EU, they object to the EU flag being flown. Indeed, one of their MSPs is pictured sporting the EU flag in his parliamentary office while voting against its erection outside. This will strike many as the greatest example of gratuitous self-harm to a brand since the jeweller, Gerald Ratner, described his products as “crap”.

In a week when we honour all those millions who lost their lives to tyranny, one lesson this has taught us is that anti-democratic forces begin with attacks on minorities but move swiftly on to all who oppose them.

And don’t forget, Boris Johnson has more power in the UK right now than did those vile forces in Germany in the 1930s.

Hitler and his gang had to contrive to overthrow the constitution in order to prosecute their evil policies. Boris Johnson has no such impediment.

He can decide what the UK constitution is.

Remember this too – and this is a message that crowing Tory, craven LibDem and desperate Labour politicians would do well to take on board – while anti-democratic forces begin with moves against minorities this soon extends to fellow travellers. At some stage, anti-democrats devour their own children. Why? Because whoever is left has to take the blame for failed policies.

Now, I am not suggesting this will happen here. But I am saying that Boris Johnson has the capacity because of the UK’s constitutional shortcomings to behave as he wishes.

AS this becomes clear to Scottish voters, the polling figures of those supporting independence are bound to rise. Also, LibDem and Labour voters read the opinion polls, showing these parties are increasingly out of favour. Losers are not attractive.

These voters see a growing hostility from the UK Government towards Scotland, while their representatives sit meekly by. This is not sustainable. Thus, the Unionists among them will gravitate, for a short time, to the Tories, wile others will see the advantages of independence.

The independence movement generally needs to be welcoming of these folks. They should be respected and not castigated for past sympathies.

All of this brings us neatly back to my frozen friends on the hillsides and fields around Kinross in December. Spread the word to all. It works.

This column welcomes questions from readers.