DEAR BBC Scotland,

I am writing this plea to you as a public service broadcaster. Now I know that we have not begun to campaign as yet for independence. Nor have we even had a vote to confirm the aspirations of over half the electorate. But using my crystal ball for a moment, if I may, and seeing a positive vote for secession, can I make this request of you. A request that may, in some small way restore trust in your organisation, north of the border. Please make time to discuss the ins and outs of independence. You no doubt, have many talented journalists who would, I’m sure, give an an honest appraisal of our future as an independent country. That’s all I’m asking. An unbiased account of where we are and where we are going. This is the most important question we face in the coming years. Yet nothing but silence from the BBC in Scotland.

You could interview a cross section of experts from economists, politicians of all hues, legal eagles and members of the public to get their views. I had hoped that given the trend in polls that information about independence would gather pace and we would be hearing a lot more about the good things that await our nation as well as the undoubted challenges. Independence is occasionally mentioned in debates on media outlets, but no real in depth analysis – why? More and more questions are being asked by your audience. Is this avoidance of such an important milestone due to political pressure or does the BBC in Scotland feel this issue does not merit any scrutiny?

I have my suspicions that all is not quite right in the upper echelons of Pacific Quay. The BBC in Scotland receives a licence fee to enlighten and inform the public. If people seem interested and all the polls suggest that this is the case, in being an independent country, you surely have a duty to regularly inform and discuss this issue. Will the BBC in Scotland do the right thing?

Keith Taylor

MALCOLM Rifkind tells us we shouldn’t have another Scottish independence referendum because it is a “once-in-a- generation” opportunity. This phrase was expressed by Alex Salmond in an interview with Andrew Marr on 14th September, 2014. It’s available on the internet and in it Salmond can clearly be heard prefacing the statement with, “in my opinion ...”

WATCH: Malcolm Rifkind claims there's 'no basic justification' for indyref2

The premise was not included in the enabling legislation and it was not legally binding; rather it was simply an observational opinion by one politician. I certainly don’t accept it, neither apparently do currently 55% of the Scottish electorate, because to do so would be to curtail the democratic right of the Scottish people to determine their political will according to any changing circumstances they are presented with.

While Rifkind dismisses the many reasons why another referendum is essential now i.e. Scotland’s extrication from the EU against its will, the many broken promises by the “Better Together” campaign, the flagrant power grab by Westminster of repatriated powers that will weaken devolution and the embarrassment of Westminster legislating to breach international treaties and Law etc. fortunately the increasingly angry Scottish electorate disagree with him.

Shouldn’t Rifkind heed the current political climate in Britain and be holding his Conservative Party to account for it’s despicable policies and actions that have created the chasm between Westminster and Scotland, exacerbated by its complete disregard of Scotland and Scots’ opinions, and treating us like a subjugated colony rather than the “partner” we were claimed to be during the 2014 referendum? And shouldn’t he, as an alleged advocate of democracy, be supporting Scots to express their democratic rights to remain in the Union or leave it?
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh

JUST what gives Alistair Jack the right to tell Scotland, Wales and even Northern Ireland, all being devolved nations in respect of our National Health Services, what to do regarding how we respond to Covid-19? Our leaders do not lead, as he suggests, “for the sake of it”.In fact, so far as the leader of his own country is concerned, Nicola Sturgeon is making a far better job than his own political leader in Westminster. And the rest of the world knows this. For that matter, what gives Westminster the right to suggest that the other UK countries, and there are four, should do what England says? We are not just one country, again as Jack suggests with his ill informed geographical and historical information. Why did Westminster make provision for the Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly if he thinks we should do as England says? Alistair Jack is living in a Tory world of yesteryear and the halcyon days of the commonwealth for queen and country. He must be seething at Barbados dropping the queen as its sovereign head of state. No Mr Jack. We will not do as England says. No country in the world will ever look to the English Government as an example of goodpolitical and democratic leadership. Scotland has found its own way and will be telling yourself and your leader very soon, that we are once again, an independent country.
Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

I FIND myself indulging in some projections anent the rationale of the current Tory machinations, and see an underlying (Cummings-style) four-point plan.

Stage 1. Ensure that the Internal Market Bill is passed as soon as possible.

Stage 2. Pass legislation under its competence to supersede as many laws as possible passed at Holyrood, while paying directly for one or two projects which properly are within devolved competences.

Stage 3. Use the supportive media to convey what a waste of taxpayers’ money Holyrood is.

Stage 4. Close down Holyrood.

Job done!
L McGregor
Falkirk