THE long-delayed exposé of the Russian report has greatly damaged the UK Government’s security competence within the democratic process. And this year – with the government’s late response to the coronavirus crisis, along with the endless disaster of Brexit – Scotland’s place in the UK has changed fundamentally. Furthermore the outstanding leadership of Holyrood’s FM is in stark contrast to the hesitant mismanagement of Westminster’s PM during this deadly pandemic.

With the highly respected professor of politics and polls expert John Curtice announcing Scotland’s place in the Union “is now less certain than it ever has been in the past”, the steady rise to majority support for independence is confirmed at 54%.

READ MORE: John Curtice: Yes side the favourite to win indyref for the first time ever

Recently an unexpected and extraordinary new Panelbase poll of English voters found that 49% wish to break up the Union, with a majority for England to become an independent nation. With this in mind, along with Westminster set to overrule Holyrood on devolved issues and with a Scottish election next year, the case for independence is overwhelming.

The choice for Scotland is between an egalitarian social democratic European Scottish nation, open to the world, or remaining part of a declining and closed United Kingdom dominated by right-wing post-imperial British nationalism.

Grant Frazer
Newtonmore

I HAVE watched with growing unease the predictions for a major SNP victory in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections. There is an air of overconfidence that I have not witnessed since the old Labour party days.

Please take nothing for granted, nothing is in the bag. There will be fallout from the forthcoming Salmond enquiry – many in the SNP executive are in a cold sweat at the prospect! The birth of the Independence for Scotland Party has brought forth a flurry of attacks from people who call themselves democrats. Are they scared?

It is evident that SNP members are becoming increasingly frustrated at the lack of progress towards independence. The policies that the SNP seem determined to push, gender self-ID, the nonsensical hate crime bill and the now legendary Section 30 order are vote-losers. Please take note.

Cameron M Fraser
Bannockburn