I WAS rather alarmed by comments made by the First Minister in her recent interview with the Financial Times.
Apparently the First Minister said it would be “unthinkable” for the UK Government to continue to deny Scots the right to have another say on their future. Well sadly sometimes the unthinkable has nasty habit of becoming the possible, then the probable and eventually the actual.
For example, I seem to remember there were many who said it was unthinkable that Scotland would be dragged out of the EU. Well it happened. Two years ago the Covid pandemic and its consequences would have been extremely unthinkable.
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The First Minister is quoted as saying “I’ve got democracy on my side … if they think it’s about playing a waiting game, I’ve probably got time on my side as well. You look at the demographics of the support for independence – well, I’m not sure that’s going to get you out of this conundrum.”
I assume by that she means that as time passes the older No voters will, frankly, die and be replaced in the electorate by the younger mainly Yes voters.
As a fairly average 65-year-old male I am painfully aware that my chances of reaching the grand old age of 77 are now about 50/50 and, due to Covid, falling. The chances of being healthy at my current age are actually less than 50/50 according to the National Records of Scotland.
I would, however, like to live long enough to see the next referendum and hopefully the resultant Independence Day. Far too many who shared in that dream have not lived to see it. I attend too many funerals these days.
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It is simplistic in the extreme to assume that the youth of today will remain the independence supporters of tomorrow. As one gets a little older thoughts turn to marriage, mortgages, pensions, careers, debts, children and families. Priorities change, and possibly a more cautious attitude to life sets in. Perhaps one becomes a little more vulnerable to the fears and doubts of the currency question, the alleged Scottish budget deficit, the price of oil, the effects on pensions and the like.
If the second referendum were held today, I suspect we would be doing rather well to repeat the 45/55 result of seven years ago. We need at least the next two years to revive and raise the profile of the Yes campaign to convince at least another 10% of the electorate of the benefits of independence. That process needs to start right now if the possible indyref2 date of late 2023 is to be met.
Simply waiting for the No voters to be replaced by Yes voters is not an option.
John Baird
Largs
ECONOMICS used to be called the “dismal science” but in his excellent article in Saturday’s paper, Robbie Mochrie demonstrated that economists can also be inspirational (What will be our winning story for independence? This is mine..., Oct 9).
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Robbie is clearly right – people who understand economics and who know anything at all about Scotland can be very optimistic in trying to look forward to an independent Scotland, because we can see all the real resources and advantages our small country has, in contrast to the constant pessimism of the unionists and the Unionist media.
He is also right that we must step up to the plate and put forward sound ideas for moving forward with independence and explaining to the community, and the politicians how to take full advantage of our good fortune in economic resources.
Andy Anderson
Saltcoats
WITH reference to David Howie’s faux outrage in Friday’s edition of The National (“Anti-SNP jibe was offered without evidence”, Oct 8), this is, sadly, typical of people who have not yet caught up with the fact that “blind allegiance butters no parsnips!” Sorry about that.
The SNP, the party of Scottish independence, has elicited our votes on the basis of an indy referendum time and time again, and yet, by their own admission, ALL work had stopped on this matter of such importance, and only recently have they restarted some civil servants on this task.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh’s point was clear. The plague of Brexit was laid upon us by Westminster, the SNP have not delivered us from it, yet so who is stopping our independence? Well, it isn’t the Tories.
David and others need to understand that it was this Biblical drought of seven years that caused the unrest, caused the creation of another indy political party to get things going again, to breathe life into the dying corpse of our independence movement.
Being angry about a party dedicated to achieving independence for Scotland is a concerning symptom of political myopia personified.
Alba offered nothing but help and support for the SNP and were vilified for it. They continue to be vilified by SNP hacks even as their numbers diminish.
The Yes movement is very big and the SNP has virtually ignored it, year after year.
Surely it needs to become a member? Lead it, even.
The internecine war helps only Tories.
Christopher Bruce
Taynuilt
WELL, the shiny new leader act didn’t last long. Alex Cole-Hamilton’s mask has slipped – again. Perhaps he should consider a tighter fitting one. In all seriousness, Mr Cole-Hamilton would never have made a comment about a male politician appearing “knackered”. It is crass, but not surprising consider what we know of his behaviour in the past.
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With that said, is he surprised Nicola Sturgeon appears tired? I mean, she has been running rings round his party, and others, for years now. Pull the mask back up now, Alex.
Gary Hogarth
via email
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