I AM grateful to your readers Richard Walthew (for his letter) and Marcus Carslaw (for his article) in The National (January 3). I am also grateful to your editor for publishing these texts, in which each author (in his own way) argued against the use of a traditional General Election as a de facto referendum on independence, and in which each (also in his own way) exposed the logical deficiency of the approach which they were advocating.

What each presents is the idea that there are actually two influential bodies of opinion which we must persuade to accept our claim of independence – the majority opinion of the Westminster Parliament and the official governmental opinion of the majority of countries who are members of the UN – and with whom, as an independent country, we would hope to negotiate and conduct subsequent trade. There are two examples which are of particular and special importance – the USA and the European Union. Win either (or both) of these two, and the rest of the majority will probably follow – including (after a period of ineffectual spluttering) the Westminster parliament.

In these circumstances, our position would have some similarity to the current position of Kosovo – its independence is recognised by most countries in the west but not by certain eastern countries, notably Russia. Our position, however, would be assisted greatly by our economic strength in renewable energy.

Walthew and Carslaw both seem to expect that the Westminster parliament would be likely to refuse to accept a Scottish UDI claim no matter which method we used. I agree. So the issue is simplified to just one of those options – a Westminster General Election used as a de facto referendum.

Why not a Holyrood election? Answer – because it was set up by Westminster and it therefore (arguably) has the power to dissolve it. So it must be Westminster. Westminster is almost certain to say no in both, whatever strategy we choose, therefore our primary target must be world opinion.

How about an “unofficial” referendum which lacks a Section 30 approval? I think that the world (or most of it) would be inclined to accept Westminster’s position because in that context, they would be inclined to accept that Westminster (supported by the Supreme Court) is the relevant authority.

The option which remains is a Westminster General Election used as a de facto referendum. I think the USA and EU might be more inclined to question Westminster’s judgement in that context. Each has its own particular reason to reject Westminster’s position.

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The USA has had its own experience with their UDI claims and also a war of independence. Further, the USA knows about Scottish claims of “the people being sovereign” because of its influence on the US’s own (written) Declaration of Independence.

We could also note that the EU might be similarly inclined because they have had recent experience of Westminster’s intransigence (Brexit, the Northern Ireland Protocol and all that).

It would certainly be good if we could bring on the next Westminster election sooner, but it will happen quite soon anyway, which gives more time for the folly of Brexit to sink in.

We must also bear in mind that the likely new government at Westminster will be a rather right-wing Labour government which will face financial difficulties relating to trade. In this case, although unlikely to seek membership of the EU, that government would be quite likely to seek membership of EFTA. That would cure any difficulties with the Northern Ireland Protocol and solve any potential difficulties with the Scottish/rUK Border – another reason to wait patiently for the General Election.

In his letter, Richard Walthew remarks that “if the SNP does its job and informs the world that Scotland did all possible to appease Westminster, then I believe the world would welcome Scotland into the community of independent nations”.

I agree. What I will not do, however, is suggest that Scotland’s approach to the Supreme Court was an embarrassing compliance with the relevant rules of what is often laughingly called the British “constitution”.

I think it was a shrewd manoeuvre to demonstrate to the world that Scotland (recall that the primary target is world opinion) has not sought confrontation for its own sake, but has, rather, leant over backwards to be cooperative, mature and avoid dispute.

If we do adopt the de facto referendum election strategy, I hope we will not put forward a manifesto in two parts. It should be in one undivided part within which independence, and what that enables us to do, is presented as a solution to our multiple practical day-to-day political problems. If Westminster parties are simultaneously trying to discredit each other’s proposals, that is itself an argument for independence.

Hugh Noble

Appin

IT is hardly surprising that a Tory government that wants to ignore human rights when it comes to refugees will try to do the same to its own people by effectively outlawing the right to strike. Apparently, the Tories will allow strikes to go ahead under strict conditions and only if strikers maintain “a basic function and deliver minimum safety levels.”

As usual, the same rules don’t apply to this crooked Tory government. Where were the basic function and minimum safety levels during the Covid outbreak where hundreds of thousands of people have suffered and died from the incompetence and greed of successive Tory prime ministers and politicians? Where was the basic function of stopping widespread fraud from their dodgy PPE contracts handed out via a VIP lane for Tory members and donors?

It’s too little, too late if they think getting a few million back from Lady Mone is enough. What about Hancock’s local pub landlord and his dodgy contract? What about the £37 billion wasted on England’s Test and Trace or the billions lost in fraud which the current prime minister has done nothing about? A token example such as Mone doesn’t get the Tories off the hook – they were all in it up to their eyeballs, each and every one of them either had their hand in the till or stood by and let it happen.

Remember, while the public couldn’t visit dying relatives the current prime minister was at one of Boris Johnston’s parties laughing at us for following their rules, which they simply ignored.

And don’t expect Labour to ride to the rescue – they had plenty of time to repeal Thatcher’s anti-trade union laws and failed to do so. They were also instrumental in ensuring that employment legislation wasn’t devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

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The UK is a failing state, fast becoming a third-world nation where being a crook is an advantage in government. There is no redemption within the UK. We need our independence and we need it now.

Cllr Kenny MacLaren

Paisley

I must say I was impressed by The Jouker in Tuesday’s National, quickly dismantling the concerns of the Tory MSP Stephen Kerr, over the perceived limitations of the Scottish Parliament in cheap unsubstantiated comments published in The Telegraph.

This impudent man was foisted upon Scottish politics from his previous political abode in Westminster and what an affront his presence has become within the walls of the debating chamber at Holyrood. There are many people within his own constituency who despise him with a passion, some of whom have previously corresponded with The National, highlighting their utter contempt for this man and his regular crass behaviour and his attitude in general.

His recent platitudes expose more Tory hypocrisy in full view. The guy regularly plays the game of “wrecking ball politics” and does it with impunity; he is allowed to get away with it to the point where he is just generally regarded as an extreme idiot who is ignored most of the time. My biggest frustration is the fact he is picking up a whopping big annual salary for behaving like an idiot – sponsored by the Tories to “play the idiot” with the trademark smirking to back it up.

Also don’t forget he is another one of these extreme Scots Tories – a rabid Unionist who would shut down the Scottish Parliament if given half a chance – all part of the “wrecking ball politics” these charlatans practise at Holyrood.

They continue to haunt Scottish politics regardless of the fact they are a minority political party with nothing to offer Scotland. I look forward to the great possibility of Kerr and the rest of his ilk being “wiped off the political map” in Scotland – and it will be truly deserved.

Bernie Japs

Edinburgh

The blame for the imminent collapse of the NHS can be put squarely at the door of political criminalsthe Tories and New Labour.

Ideologically. they view health spending as a terrible drain on resources. Instead they wish the individual to be responsible for their own “healthcare”.

To that end, Westminster governments of all stripes have deliberately run the NHS into the ground for decades. This has been done by starving it of resources. All to prepare the ground for private-sector vampires such as Richard Branson to come in and “save” it through privatisation.

The underfunding has resulted in staff shortages and years of eviscerated wages. This has caused burnt-out workers to go on strike or quit altogether.

The only consideration that the Westminster parties have is that nothing must interrupt the money supply to continue the war in Ukraine. Or that there be no disruption to the payment of government debt.

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As long as those can go on, then Westminster is unconcerned about a functioning NHS or citizens struggling to afford to live.

The struggle by those working in the NHS is indicative of a movement that is taking place across the globe.

In every country, bribed governments and their corporate puppet masters are demanding wages, pensions and jobs be gutted. All for corporate profits. Workers are resisting.

The capitalist system is a Ponzi scheme designed to enrich a wealthy elite while trashing the planet.

Alan Hinnrichs

Dundee

For the late-lamented former MP for Stirling, Stephen Kerr – who we flung out and who is now a list MSP – to criticise debates at the Holyrood Parliament defies credibility.

This is the loudmouth who ignored many warnings by the Speaker of the Commons and who has behaved with similar discourtesy in Holyrood, even to the First Minister when she was demolishing the inaccurate allegations he was making.

He was one of the cheerleaders of the Tory baying down of SNP members trying to conduct rational debate in the Commons, and his tactics have not changed in the Parliament which he holds in such contempt.

For such a creature to run away to The Telegraph to publish his infamy is entirely typical of his bullying-craven behaviour. Come back here to Stirling and see how you fare.

We now have, in Alyn Smith, a fine MP who engages in debate and will not have his arguments howled down by braying Tory jackals.

KM Campbell

Doune