THOUGH perhaps being a tad more conservative than George Kerevan in advocating a more aggressive political approach to independence by the SNP in general and the Scottish Government in particular, I must confess to sharing his frustration and irritation at their apparently self-emasculated approach to the current crisis in UK Government ranks (Why Scotland must seize its moment and go for independence, Dec 13).

Mr Kerevan is correct to state that the sacking or resignation of the Prime Minister, though temporarily gratifying, will do little to alter the fundamental issues involved in the independence debate. The Conservative party has significantly moved to the political right and any replacement for the mendacious blockhead who masquerades as its leader will almost certainly mirror this change. So, Johnson’s departure may allow the serpentine Gove, ineffectual Truss or uninspiring Sunak to take over at the helm but the UK establishment will still jealously guard its power and continue on a centrist path that is determined to dilute the authority of the devolved parliaments.

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The Oxbridge elite and its allies in the media will continue to dominate the political and economic life of the UK, and the abominations of the Westminster first-past-the-post system and archaic House of Lords will endure. In short, as Mr Kerevan observes, nothing tangible will change unless we seize the initiative and stop playing by their rules.

Kate Forbes is a real asset to the Scottish Government and undoubtedly a very accomplished Finance Secretary. However, as George Kerevan points out, managing the Scottish budget that will affect local authorities and council tax payers disproportionately only encourages criticism of the Scottish Government and protects the UK Government from justified attacks over the effects of Brexit and their inequitable policy decisions. Disrupting parliamentary business at Westminster may be a high-risk tactic but it is one that should be employed to draw attention to the blatant, amoral and corrupt nature of the current UK Government and their ongoing attempts to humiliate and enervate those who represent the people of Scotland.

Public confidence in the Tory government is eroding with each passing scandal, and MPs from parties that espouse an independent Scotland must grasp the nettle and ignite the independence movement. Now’s the day and now’s the hour.

Owen Kelly
Stirling

COULDN’T agree more with George Kerevan! I live in the “blue wall” on the English border and reading George’s piece on Monday sent my mind into overdrive at what our Tory MSPs, MPs and councils would say if the Scottish Government announced that they had borrowed (from the EU) billions of pounds to “raise the living standards” in Scotland. Who would argue with that? Hospitals, hospitality, care workers, fishermen, farmers (even Tory)? Not likely. How could the Tory MPs defend this turn of events?

I don’t always agree with George but so what, that’s just politics – this time George is spot-on.

Ken McCartney
Hawick

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COMMITTING Scotland to the nod of current hapless tyrant PM Johnson is an insult to us all! We all know that Tories will clutch every glimmer of chance to protect their beloved UK, regardless of how imprisoned Scotland is held as a member of the wretched Union. We can be sure Tory backbenchers will suddenly rise and be rid of Johnson before we know it.

As a consequence, the struggle will go on as their faithful hiding in Scotland breathe a sigh of relief and give the next dummy the benefit of doubt to protect their life-long faith in the most monumental con-trick to befall a nation.

Tomorrow will never be too soon to gain our independence!

Tom Gray
Braco

AS a long-time supporter of Scottish independence but not a member of any political party, it seems quite amazing to me that a number of writers to The National (and some who post comments online) not only have their own crystal balls but apparently know what the First Minister is currently thinking, which in their minds is not how to achieve Scotland’s independence as rapidly as possible. This appears somewhat presumptuous, if not arrogant, as no matter how many newspapers I read, or political debates I listen to, like most of the general public I can only be aware of a fraction of the information provided to the First Minister through her party and through government advisers and officials, never mind independent “experts”.

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Instead of trusting the person who didn’t jump ship when the 2014 referendum was lost but took the wheel and navigated our country into a strong and relatively early position to fight a new referendum, these “mystics” are convinced they know better. Of course they have been encouraged in such thinking both by those who would cheerfully drive a wedge between different groups of Yes supporters in order to sustain a now calamitous Union and by disgruntled past supporters of the Labour Party and members of the disbanded “79 Group” who are still pre-occupied with fighting their personal politically ideological battles.

The pandemic is a present reality that wishful thinking will not expunge, and although its duplicitous actions are significantly undermining government from Holyrood, the ongoing revelations of the incompetence and corruption of the Westminster government are not harming the cause of self-determination. On the exact timing of that next referendum we should all have some faith in the judgement of an astute leader who, unlike her UK counterpart, acts with integrity and has proven to be a skilled politician, an accomplished head of government and a statesperson of growing international stature, of whom all in Scotland should be proud.

Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian