I SEE that that the SNP are soon to set up an “Independence Task Force”. That’s great, but why has there not been a permanent Independence Task Force for the last several years? It should always be the first priority of the SNP, which was inaugurated many years ago with independence as its only reason for existing and it is the very first policy listed in the party’s constitution. Nothing else.
As for “firing up the Yes campaign”. Up till now this has been largely ignored by the SNP hierarchy, and all the recent massive Yes marches took place with almost no participation by party ministers and were a largely grassroots phenomenon.
READ MORE: SNP to launch independence taskforce to fire up Yes campaign
However, there is a huge existing and self-starting body of Yes supporters just awaiting the date for the referendum and, as before, they will give it everything.
It is to be hoped that we have agreed answers to all those questions which the Unionists threw at us in 2014, when we were definitely found wanting for replies on currency, pensions, GERS, and the border with England.
It will be a source of great disappointment if the SNP are only now beginning to think about these things which they should have finalised long ago.
Finally, it is absolutely imperative that we have a strong, well-known, articulate and charismatic leader to head up the campaign. This was not an area where we were strong in 2014. The leader must be able to confidently rebut all the lies with which our opponents will assail him. Rebuttal has been a weak area in recent years.
James Duncan
Edinburgh
WITH an election of the greatest significance for Scotland’s future just four months away, we would normally see canvassers on their rounds, stalls in the streets and leaflets being distributed on the tenement stairs. Covid has put an end to that.
What we can do is look to the alternatives in order to bring home to all the importance of the election and the opportunity it offers. Party members are, of course, active on social media and in their day-to-day contacts with friends and relatives, but there is a place for visual display to convey the need to support the Party. We wear masks in shops and crowded areas. The SNP shop sells attractive masks with our logo, but I see too few about.
READ MORE: Unionists fume at SNP for setting up new independence taskforce
Our windows seem to remain bare of posters. Our cars are not carrying the stickers which proclaim support for independence and the party. We are not wearing the badges which identify our allegiances. Until we do these things, the sense of excitement which turns out voters is missing, as is the encouragement to the undecided that if they summon up the courage to back Independence, they are in company with many in number and with faces whom they respect.
James Scott
Edinburgh
LIKE Trumpery, I feel English nationalism is established, engrained, growing and particularly dangerous. It’s anti European, anti-immigration, anti-Scottish (and even anti-English!) It favours the already well-off and is a blight in the UK culture.
We of course are fed rhetoric that is the contrary, but there are signs more and more Scottish people are recognising we must distance ourselves from this mentality. The truth is England needs us. Otherwise they would have kicked us into touch years ago.
READ MORE: Lord McConell under fire for suggesting half of SNP voters are extremists
I feel though there has to be a groundswell of opinion in England itself. The regions, eg northern England, need to get their act together and tackle London, and the privileged clique that run the country. We have a means to redress the unfairness in society with indyref2. They don’t. So getting our house in order first should help them. We could be an inspiration to the downtrodden and marginalised in England. The sooner we gain independence, the sooner the rest of the UK will also benefit.
Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus
THE Westminster government has broken the Treaty of the the Union of the Scottish and English Parliaments so many times. It is time for the sovereign people of Scotland to say enough is enough. The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has already stated if the people of Scotland in May votes for an SNP majority in the Scottish Parliament, an independence referendum WILL be held, so vote SNP 1 and 2.
No agreements between the Scottish and Westminster governments should be entered into before the referendum. After all the jiggery-pokery over the last 300 odd years, you couldn’t trust them as far as you could throw them.
William Purves
Galashiels
IN 1292 England was struggling to find a suitable king for Scotland, and the best they could come up with was John Balliol, aka “Toom Tabard.” In 2020 the Tories were in the same predicament, and the best they could come up with was part- time linesman, part- time politician Douglas Ross. I suspect that he may never have heard of John Balliol. This intellectual sees fit to criticise Jeane Freeman, whose credentials, integrity and track record compare favourably with those of this little man and his little flag. Gaun yersel’, Dougie!
Joe Cowan
Balmedie
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