I AM not sure where to start my comments on Alyn Smith’s latest column, “Less social media frenzy and more doorstep campaigning will win independence” (June 2).
I have no problem with the heading and I do agree with his statement “we need to get real”. He claims the SNP are “making history”. Well, given the complete failure to move the independence case forward much in the past seven years I can’t agree with that bit, Alyn.
According to Alyn “we have a troupe of Scottish Government ministers working on that as well as everything else the government needs to work on”. I can see little actual evidence of that now and over the past decade.
READ MORE: Less social media frenzy and more doorstep campaigning will win independence
Sad as I am to say it, the polls are not that encouraging. The percentage of those willing and able to vote for independence is firmly stuck. If another referendum was held any time soon the result would be very close to that of 2014.
Waving a wee Euro flag and boldly claiming that “rejoining the EU, the single market and the customs union will put rocket boosters on our recovery” and that EU structural funds will “massively empower local government” will not change the minds of those as yet unconvinced. Possibly rejoining the EU and possibly joining the euro is a very long way away.
Until the SNP can put its own financial house in order will be difficult to claim it can handle the finances of an independent nation. Anyone reading the party’s accounts will see the SNP are clearly not in “good shape” with “sound finances audited by the internal mechanisms of the party”. Three members of the internal audit committee recently resigned, followed in the past few days, by the national treasurer. How do you explain that, Alyn?
The unanswered questions about the £600k independence fund hang over the party like a bad-smelling fog.
I have no wish to, as Alyn claims, start a row in an empty house. I have never trawled the internet for grievance and outrage, but too many questions simply remain unanswered.
Glenda Burns
Glasgow
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel