ONCE again I must comment on the constant speculation and criticism being directed at the internal committee activities, policies and leadership of the SNP being expressed by individuals, elected politicians of all parties, self-appointed gurus, a proliferation of academic experts, various Yes factions and grassroots supporters.

Of course, everyone including myself has the right to express their opinion and be critical or supportive or both. Having spent time since the turn of the year reading and listening to the media in all its forms, I have drawn the conclusion that our drive and message towards independence is being hijacked and undermined by many of those listed above.

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Clearly this is to be expected from opposition parties who support the Union. Fortunately, their anti-independence message is increasingly falling on the deaf ears of the Scottish electorate. Unfortunately we have those, who are not members of the SNP but who support independence, increasingly ploughing their own furrow and pursuing their own brand of post-independence politics even before we become independent.

The number of organisations, committee groups, lobby groups, academic support groups with all sorts of titles and nomenclatures pursing, eg, currency development, banking structures, gender issues, environment, and many solely interested in voicing their own version of independence aspirations. You just need to look at Facebook and the social media to see the full spectrum of these lobbyists and narrators “grinding their axes”.

Now as an SNP member and activist I am delighted that at this time the clear support for Scottish independence has never been higher, never been so palpable and the level of support has never been so broad. A step change has occurred and of course I accept that the SNP no longer has the monopoly in the drive towards independence.

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However, it must be stated that only the SNP can deliver independence through the ballot box, and unless the wide spectrum of differing organisations and lobby groups I have alluded to support and vote for the SNP – and deliver a clear majority which will ensure a referendum and therefore independence – the opportunity will be lost, and believe me this will be a “once-in-a-generation” outcome.

At this point in time, it is clear for all to see that the Unionists are gathering all their resources to ensure that their anti-independence stance in all its forms will be harnessed in the build-up to the Holyrood elections. Their onslaught has already started. Tory, Labour, LibDems and other right-wing Union supporters have once again overtly or covertly formed their unholy alliance.

In the meantime, the independence movement is all over the place, with various factions only interested in pursuing their own agenda.

Many are attacking the SNP within and outwith the party. All this achieves is turmoil, tension and the key word is frustration.

From the position of the “silent majority” of SNP membership and the Yes movement, we are looking on at what is happening with incredulity at these kamikaze tactics! By way of example. The recent elections to the various internal SNP committees, in particular the NEC, brought a raft of new and radical membership. At last, I thought, “peace in our time “. Nothing of the sort, already dissension among the NEC on policy.

The leadership in the SNP and the movers and shakers in the Yes movement get a grip. Please UNITE and focus on what matters and please get the INDEPENDENCE job done.

Dan Wood
Kirriemuir