THE louder, the more visible, the continued increase in support for independence, the more agitated Westminster and the Tories have become. We were reminded of this in Monday’s edition of The National, with more than one reference to the blatant attempts by the rUK government to handcuff our parliament before totally emasculating it.

I believe that this is just one weapon in their arsenal. We can expect, then, that in the weeks to come their rehashed anti-independence campaign, subtle or not, will become more obvious. In the run-up to leaving the EU without a deal, it will focus more and more on weakening us economically with power grabs that cut the feet from under our manufacturers, our growers and safeguards such as food standards, employees’ rights, all in the spurious notion of serving one nation, sans borders.

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But turn this about and we see that it’s they who are panicking, not us, and we have to keep it that way. Our support is increasing, whilst theirs decreases. We have to keep the pressure on then and not lose the momentum of the last few months.

We sent our MPs to Westminster fully aware of the constraints they would face: the numerical deficit, the hostility from Labour as they were shown up for their ineffectual opposition, topped by the derision, the dismissal that would and did come from the Tories. As a side question, did we honestly think our presence in Westminster would result in independence? Of course not. So our Scottish Parliament is the venue for the end game, not Westminster.

Every occasion we get, we should be showing that no matter our willingness to participate in Westminster, we are prevented from securing better outcomes for our people. Not just now amid the Covid crisis, but even earlier, with the need to mitigate against the excesses of Tory ideology and its impact on lives and living day to day.

By combining the evidence of the failures of the rUK governments along with the (limited) successes secured via Holyrood, we demonstrate that our parliament is where our future lies. We control who sits there on our behalf. It is beholden on us that we secure the pro-indy majority next year. “Again?” I know, I hear. But actions undertaken without a democratic majority reflecting the will of the people will be challenged by Westminster as mob rule, illegal, disregarded and worse, viewed with skepticism and hostility abroad across nations and international bodies.

Parties standing for Holyrood next year will have to show me just how they will use my votes to achieve independence. Manifesto, Plans A,B, C, route map. It has to be there: their commitment to me as a voter that they will act out their intentions. By doing so, Scotland will remind Westminster and the world of what we plan to be: yet again, a small independent nation.

Westminster knows our power really does reside in Holyrood. Pat Lee’s letter of July 6 reminded us that Hands Off Our Parliament gathered outside Holyrood a few years back. I was honoured to be asked to speak that dreich day.When the call comes, Scotland will do so again with our presence, actions, votes: all parts of our arsenal.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

THERE is much chatter anent a second independence party. We already have a second independence party: the Greens. They have been solid for independence for many years. Green policies micht aiblins bi a whein owre the tap, but to thinking people the objectives are worthy. Second vote for Green could be a good way to increase the independence representation in parliament.

R Mill Irving
Gifford, East Lothian