OK, call me a pessimist, but what are the chances the PM a will call a snap election for September this year? The Tory majority is minus two now, so how much of that remaining majority is he prepared to lose to gain another five years?

Surely the facts speak for themselves in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton, with a knowledgeable and determined voting population determined to lend votes so as to oust the Tories. But would that translate in a General Election? Would Tories take fright and return to the fold so as to prevent a country-wide defeat and loss of power? Over and above those two defeats, there was the recent vote of confidence. Under the current Tory rules, the PM cannot be challenged for another year. If he were to win a snap General Election this autumn, who would dare challenge him again?

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Too much of what would weaken if not destroy any other politician is water off a duck’s back to this PM. Well, so far. There’s the parliamentary inquiry starting this week that could address his time in office. The Commons Privilege Committee will begin investigating whether he misled parliament over Partygate. But we know just how slippery he is, so there’s going to be that thin line between “knowingly” and “deliberately”. It hinges around his answer, “no”, when asked if he had “deliberately” misled the House.

So, after all of this, is he so supremely confident of his own vote-lure abilities? He’d have to work hard, very hard, to make a case for sacrifices from the general population if the war in Ukraine continues, as could be the case. Is he the man, is he the leader – along with the likes of Truss and Wallace – we’d want in place with a potential war across Europe, engulfing countries beyond the confines of Ukraine? There’s obvious tension in Cabinet about further funding for “defence”, but if you’re a weakened leader then looking good in defence of the country might be judged a vote winner. But really, with a cost-of-living crisis, worker unrest with more strikes threatened, could he? Would he?

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And then, there’s us. There’s Scotland. Would the PM gamble all by calling a General Election in September in the hopes it would take place before a decision from the Supreme Court? Wishing to operate within the law, our FM has made it known we’re waiting for the court’s decision. Only following on from a “no” from the court would the SNP – and presumably the Greens – stand on a single-issue platform in a General Election. Would he? Could he? Dare he?

Even if he does, the die is cast. Our campaigning is being re-planned and reactivated even now, and this time, it’s is up to the Unionists to make a claim for Union. The claim for the fulfilment of democracy, for the right to decide, to reclaim Scotland’s independence will always and eventually be decided by the people.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

IN response to Frieda Burns’s reply (Jul 4) to my letter of June 30, I wish to outline the following points.

First, it’s clear that you have not properly read and thought about the points I made. Therefore if you are going to come back to debate a topic then please only do so with counter-arguments that logically challenge the points that have been raised, else it’s just more regurgitation and we do not need that. Apply critical thinking and come back with substantive counter-arguments. Don’t come back with just more of the same. Certainly, I will not continue to engage with regurgitation.

Second, and in response to your final question, it’s clear that my first point is categorically correct, that you have not read my letter and not employed critical thinking. I suggest that you also read my latest letter (“It’s the collective responsibility of Yes supporters to make marches great”, July 3), which suitability addresses your ridiculous question.

Third, let’s speak the language of Scottish independence without the slightest hint of British state Toryism. As such I encourage you, and anyone who agrees with you, to please take it easy and temper your language accordingly. Your use of the word “hang” is in this context most unsavoury, and fundamentally nullifies and exposes your foundationless argument.

Now is the time to unite and strike for independence. Let’s fight together, not against each other. All for one and one for all. All Under One Banner. Scotland will.

Neil Mackay
via email

I DON’T in any way doubt the effort Neil Mackay puts in to organise the indy marches. He is not alone in that.

Through the Brechin Hub, as the events organiser there I put in between three weeks and a month asking, cajoling and chasing people to fill our bus. At the Glasgow march we took 44 people there, probably 1% of the total attendance, and at the COP march 49 people and again given the turnout about 1% of the attendance. For a little town like Brechin to get this number of attendees is not bad going. If every other hub, party branch or indy organisation put in the same effort, the numbers at the marches would explode.

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However, once we get people there is has got to be a positive and joyous occasion for them. It falls well short of that at present. I like many others don’t just want the Tories out. I want Westminster out. Having watched some of the performances by various groups at the COP march, we have much to learn. They were vibrant and positive. We should have the same aim.

Sorry if I blamed AUOB for the starting point at the COP march. There was no indication for us when we arrived about where it would start, no advice on how to get there and the elderly – and there were many of them – couldn’t climb the hill.

I’m not on the other side from Neil Mackay. I just think that beyond arranging the venues we need to get our act together to make our marches a bit better than the continual cry of “Tory, Tory, Tory, out, out, out.”

D Smart
Brechin