WITH reference to Jim Johnson’s letter (October 22), several National readers have, like Lesley Riddoch, John Drummond and others, commented on the need for a written constitution. So, let’s get on with it rather than just talk about it!

In April this year a registered charity titled Constitution for Scotland was set up. The sole purpose of this charity is to fund a professional, interactive, intuitive website that will provide a secure, internet-based platform to debate, propose, amend and vote on the content of a constitution for a self-governing Scotland.

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Following the public debate and voting period, the end product will be presented at a national convention, and when approved will be submitted to the Scottish executive for consideration as a legislative proposal.

Recent events have clearly demonstrated that political parties cannot be relied upon to put the overall requirements of the public before party obligations. There is therefore a critical need for a written constitution to be debated and agreed by the electorate prior to independence. This will provide a sense of common ownership and an understanding of what we want in a constitution for a future democratic Scotland.

The background to the charity was a group of professional Scots who over a period of some four years debated and agreed a model constitution created to guide a public debate for ALL interested folks.

The final draft may be wholly different from the model, but that will be by the agreement of the participants.

The charity website sets out the specification for a professional, interactive, intuitive website and because of the technical complexity of the required website to ensure security the costs have risen above the original funding, hence the need for donations. Please read about the project and contribute at www.constitutionforscotland.scot.

Bob Ingram
Chair, Constitution for Scotland

IT all began two years ago, when the Catalan people came out to vote in a referendum of self-determination. The Spanish Government called it illegal and used brute force to stop the vote. Thousands of people were savagely beaten by the police. Catalan politicians and social leaders were jailed for allowing people to vote.

Pro-independence people of all ambits have been persecuted, imprisoned and accused of terrorism, without any evidence to prove it.

The Catalan movement is known all over the world for its civic and peaceful attitude, and has been actively demonstrating this principle in the streets for years.

We waited for the sentence of the Spanish justice system. We knew that it would be as harsh as the repression we are receiving. The sentence for the members of the Catalan Government, added up for those on trial, was 100 years in prison. Many of us have taken to the streets to say “enough!

Barcelona airport was paralysed on the day of the sentence, October 14. We took part in the different protests all over the territory. More than half a million people took part in freedom marches, some walking up to 100km in three days to reach the heart of Barcelona. What is the response of the Spanish state? An uncontrolled and disproportionate repression.

They beat the protesters, they shoot rubber balls – which are illegal under Catalan law – they arrested the demonstrators and call them violent and terrorists. In the streets you can see demonstrators protesting with forcefulness (they set fire to containers and organize barricades), prompting Spain to threaten us with a possible declaration of a state of exception. However, in previous days, Spain had approved similar attitudes of the demonstrators in Hong Kong, considering they were fighting for their rights.

But it seems that as Catalans, we do not deserve to protest for our rights. Did they think we were going to accept their repressive tactics and their unjust sentencing? We will continue the rebellion until we achieve our freedom and our independence.

Lola Salmerón
Barcelona

I HATE to add to Ian Murray’s woes, but did he not declare in 2015 that he was the MP for the “Socialist Republic of Edinburgh South”, which takes in the douce suburbs of Newington and Morningside? Just thought I would remind him the Labour party are no longer relevant to the poor and working poor anywhere in Scotland, and he has to depend on middlle-class votes to get re-elected.

Joe Wallace
via email

AS morning of the 25th dawns, can I offer our editor Callum and his hardworking team at The National our congratulations for a job well done, with issue 1500.

Without your dedication and continued hard work our success would not have reached the level you have achieved. Keep up the good work; the independence movement needs you!

George M Mitchell
Dunblane