MUSING over who is best placed to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as leader of the SNP is about as helpful to Scotland achieving independence as speculating over who will succeed Neil Lennon as manager of Celtic FC, although that latter succession may be of immediate concern to some (Sooner or later, the SNP will need a new leader. Here’s who is in the running, January 25).

While George Kerevan indulges his seemingly rather limited perspective of who within the party has the requisite attributes for this future role, most who support self-determination – outside of conceited politicians, opinionated political commentators and those with questionable motives – wish to see a renewed focus on helping the SNP to win the next Holyrood election while overall delivering the highest number of independence-supporting MSPs as the current voting system will render realistically achievable.

READ MORE: George Kerevan: Sooner or later, the SNP will need a new leader. Here’s who is in the running

The Tories have already started campaigning for both the Holyrood election and the next referendum by mailing out two-page colour brochures across Scotland with 14 references to a referendum and 11 to independence. It is no coincidence that in the meantime the BBC and the rest of the UK mainstream media propaganda machine are seizing on even the most trivial news item tenuously related to our current and former First Minister to denigrate both individuals, which may serve to benefit the interests of a few who have personal aspirations, or political goals, beyond independence, but will also serve to undermine the immediate objective of Scotland taking control of its own destiny.

Those who cannot find ways to channel their talents more constructively should perhaps consider taking a quiet break for a while and letting others with more positive messages do the talking!

Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian

UNEMPLOYMENT statistics published yesterday indicate that generally in the UK the number of people seeking employment has risen at an alarming rate.

1.72 million out of work in Sep-Nov 2020, indicating that 400,00 more were registered unemployed than at the same period in 2019. 16-24-year-olds are paying the price with higher levels of redundancy.

However, here in Scotland the picture was not so bleak, with the number of people seeking employment down by 1,000 between September and November 2020.

READ MORE: UK unemployment rate at highest level for more than four years, ONS figures show

Unemployment is something no-one wants to experience and I am sure the current furlough scheme is masking the real figures and to that end must be further extended. But with the country in crisis due to the global pandemic, many facing daily employment insecurity and thousands more now claiming benefits, many for the first time,

we need to have a complete re-think of our current employment and welfare systems.

The Department of Work and Pensions really needs to take a long, hard look at what its title represents. A good place to start a review after a global pandemic would be prioritising employment for those who are going to be able to work and contribute to the system. That would be those in the youngest age bracket, who need employment opportunities to be focused in their direction. The country in the midst of a crisis cannot afford not to.

For those in the older age bracket (over-60s) who are being forced into early retirement as a result of Covid, the DWP needs to have a root-and-branch review concerning pensions and consider the bigger picture and the wider costs. For this age bracket to be joining the statistics of unemployment and the never-ending circle of claiming benefits just does not make economic sense.

So, could we have an economically costed alternative of giving the over-60s their state pension? I am sure it would make economic sense to go down this road. Recovery from the global pandemic will demand reform, it will demand change, so let’s start with prioritising the younger generation who the country will be dependent on if we are going to recover from this global pandemic.

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

AS far as I am aware, Ruth Davidson has still not apologised for her inappropriate comparison of the US mob who stormed the Capitol to the planned All Under One Banner Yes movement protest. It was a comparison all too eagerly taken up by others on social media, just as Trump’s disciples followed unquestioningly in his footsteps.

READ MORE: Shona Craven: Ruth Davidson's attempts to smear all Yes supporters won't wash

As Baroness Davidson prepares to take up her seat in the House of Lords, she should reflect on the singular unfairness of this comparison. Chris McEleny of the SNP was right to point out that if the Trump-inspired violence is to be compared to anything at all, it is surely to Brexiters in England. It was they who threatened riots in the streets if the didn’t get their way.

Pro-European demonstrations and marches, like those of the Yes movement, have by contrast been notable for their peaceful and civilised nature. It would do us all a great service if Davidson, having had some time to think about it, retracted her ill-judged and inflammatory tweet. After years of nonsense from Trump, the world needs some honesty and thoughtfulness from our public figures now.

John King
Stratford-upon-Avon, England