WITH reference to your article “Poll putting Yes on 48% must be ‘wake up call for the SNP” (June 27), I would like to offer a few points for discussion on how we can turn the current opinion polls around and regain the initiative for Yes.

In my view, the following three elements are all essential if we are to – once again – put Yes in a clear winning position in the opinion polls.

1. We all need to unite around the consensually agreed basic self-determination arguments for Scottish independence, all pushing that common argument while accepting diversity and disagreement on other issues across Yes and Yes parties, and without tearing lumps out of one and other.

2. The SNP must stop trying to tie the vote for independence to rejoining the EU. A Yes vote for independence should mean just that, and that alone. We cannot win a majority by alienating the one in three Yes voters who are EU-sceptic. Independence is about real democratic choice for the Scottish people, and major constitutional changes that go beyond party boundaries, such as whether or not to rejoin the EU, or Efta, or whether or not to keep the monarchy or become a republic, should be left until independence is achieved. At an appropriate time, the Scottish people should decide on these matters in future referendums. That doesn’t mean we have some sort of omerta and don’t discuss these issues, but it does mean Yes – all of Yes – should make it clear that these are issues to be decided by the Scottish people after independence.

3. People voted for an independence referendum after Covid and we should all accept that within reason, even those of us who argued for a quicker route to indy. Equally, the SNP and Scottish Greens need to realise the campaign and the prioritising of indy as the political issue has to begin now.

The Unionists have already begun their campaign – in case anyone hadn’t noticed.

Steve Arnott
Inverness

SECURITY in Westminster parliamentary offices appears to have completely broken down. Former Cabinet minister Rory Stewart claims, with others, that there has never been hidden cameras in his office during his time in government. It is obvious that the obvious has not occurred to Stewart, that hidden cameras would not be known to be, well... obvious!

However, he does admit to there being departmental cameras placed, he says, in obvious places, such as focusing on a door. He does not say which door ,so let’s assume he means the egress and exit door. But then you wouldn’t be snogging your assistant in front of it knowing where a security camera is placed.

Stewart went on to say that if it was someone other than the man employed to install a camera to watch who comes and goes through the office door, (such as an MI6 personnel), then installing a secret camera would have some challenges. He suggests barriers, such as security passes, doors, and access to ministerial offices.

I’ll say that would be challenging, especially to the local sparky from the high street. But not to a secret service operator. Good grief! It’s not beyond the realms of impossibility that one, or even more, might have been installed in parliament, even as an MP!

Johnson’s gang of mobsters make up rules and laws for others to abide by, even in Westminster. But not to themselves because, hey, they are the law makers after all. If a rule or law suddenly applies to Johnson’s Cabinet gang then, because there is no constitution, they can change such rules and laws to suit themselves. MI6 is there to protect the country using its secret intelligence service. It has become blatantly obvious that Boris Johnson has proved to be a danger to his country he is in charge of. To all intents and purpose, so have his Cabinet gang.

Now one of the gang has been publicly been found out. His resignation from office was expected and accepted. How many more will follow? Time is getting very short for this Tory government’s very continued existence.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

WHETHER or not “Boris Johnson lacked the ‘guts’ to fire Matt Hancock” (June 28), or that Matt Hancock knew about the cameras or that the release of the video was illegal is irrelevant.

Johnson’s support and the silence of Douglas Ross and Andrew Davies this weekend has shown their total lack of empathy with the people. The question is whether they think that the rules don’t apply to “them” or don’t realise that Hancock had to go because he made fools of every one of “us” every time we checked that we were keeping our distance, stood freezing in the garden talking to someone or told a small grandchild that we couldn’t let them give us a hug.

The memories will always be there of not seeing relatives and friends in care homes or hospitals, and not being able to pay our last respects to those who did not survive to see the end of the pandemic.

How can the public have any confidence left in a government whose leaders are obviously so removed from the reality of daily life during this pandemic ?

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

I WONDER if Boris Johnson’s government still regards the UK as a union of four nations, when his Department of Education is actively promoting One Britain One Nation in schools across the UK?

Former PM David Cameron stressed that the UK was made up of four nations – the “family of nations”. Now we have Johnson’s meaningless soundbite of a “nation of equals”!

The fact is with the near criminal mismanagement of Covid and the unfolding disaster of Brexit along with ministerial sleaze and cronyism, the imperial United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is in terminal decline and its breakup is inevitable. This is highlighted by the abject failure of any kind of UK leadership from Downing Street, where standards of conduct and duty are at an all time low.

Grant Frazer
Newtonmore