Will talk of a ‘Covid crisis’ period kick independence into the long grass?

Of course, the £36bn deficit isn’t any problem except that it is money we got from Westminster and they might just want it back. After all, they were the people who borrowed it and handed it to us. But from whom did they borrow it? Obviously from the Bank of England! And who owns the Bank of England? Well, Westminster does! So, in effect they borrowed this money from themselves. Therefore, they don’t need to pay it back. But maybe we do. Had we been independent we could have printed extra money – just as Westminster did – via our own National Reserve Bank. But we didn’t. Westminster gave us that money and Westminster are likely to want it back.

Maybe as part of independence negotiations we could accept this as being our share of their national debt and pay it back over time. Then again, maybe we could refer to the £27bn that Alex Salmond proved (when he was First Minister) that Westminster had taken from us in taxes over a period of some 10 years and has never repaid. With interest that probably works out at around £36bn. So, there are ways round it.

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But what worries me most about this article is the comment made by Kate Forbes that “in terms of an independence referendum, we have said that once the crisis is past we will turn our minds to independence and that remains our position”.

No, I’m sorry. That is not what was said. Because crisis implies both Covid and its repercussions, which would include the financial situation we are now in because of Covid. What Nicola Sturgeon has promised is that we would have a referendum “in the early stages of this parliament, once Covid is over”.

There’s a big difference between Covid and “the Covid crisis”. We could actually maintain that Covid is now as over as it is ever going to be. I think most folk realise that we are going to be stuck with it for a much longer time than originally anticipated. We are likely to be receiving “Covid booster jabs” along with the flu jab for a good few years yet. Maybe there has been some sort of behind-the-scenes agreement with Westminster that we are just going to have to learn to live, and die, with it. I don’t know. I am not privy to such negotiations. But the mere fact that most of the restrictions have now been lifted suggests to me that we are as close to being over it as we are likely to be.

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On the other hand, the financial aspect of Covid is going to take a few more years to sort out. Besides which, the SNP have stated several times that it is only with independence that we will have the means to properly put our economy back to rights. Therefore, that part of the “crisis” needs independence to put it right. So, let’s not wait until that part is over, as Kate Forbes seems to be suggesting. Let’s get on with achieving independence now, and then use our full range of powers to get Scotland properly back on its feet. To do otherwise, and wait until the whole crisis is over, is merely an excuse to kick independence once more into the long grass.

Charlie Kerr
Glenrothes

WITH the recent Michael Russell interview ringing in our ears, are SNP and Yes activists any wiser or more energised by the delivery and content of his roadshow interview with Callum Baird? Sadly and predictably a resounding no, in my view.

There is nothing wrong in presenting the problems and arguments in dealing with a hostile Westminster opposition and the diehard Unionists. Ensuring that the independence strategy takes cognisance of the legalities and stands up to scrutiny by the world at large is clearly a given, understood by all thinking independence supporters.

Sadly while Michael Russell attempts to win the intellectual argument, telling the SNP faithful and Yes supporters what to do and how to think about the way forward, this completely misses the point! I am afraid while he lays bare all about the difficulties of dealing with the English-based right-wingers and die-hard Unionists and we should “hear him” on how they should be outed by persuasive well-thought discussion and logic and they will come round, all I can say “he is dreaming”.

We, the people on the ground, of course know what the intellectual arguments are and are fed up being patronised by the “intellectual wing “ of the party. The Tory hierarchy are using every dirty trick in the book to undermine our independence aspirations. The gloves are off!

This is while a number of our senior politicians remain deathly silent while others patronise us with the “right way” to take on the biggest right-wing Union Jackery in history. Right now we need to harness our most down-to-earth, provocative Yes politicians in our country who can lead our foot soldiers and activists in the independence battles that lie ahead of us all.

Independence cannot be won without a victorious SNP and the massive support of the wider Yes movement. We do have political heavyweights and supporters in abundance ready to be radical, provocative and most importantly with the energy and drive to ensure the needed momentum. Let’s identify them and ensure we start our campaign as one united movement.

Less philosophy, Michael, and more deliberate action. That’s what we want to hear and see and NOW.

Dan Wood
Kirriemuir

Opposed to the UK Government, Scotland must step up to the mark. We should support the Afghanistan people that have been so let down by Boris. Let’s take as many as we possibly can.

England hang your heads in shame! We must free ourselves from their selfish indulgent attitude.

Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus