GERRY Hassan’s article in Tuesday’s National is very much a rude awakening to the apparent general acceptance of the Westminster attacks on our democracy and government (Double standards are rife throughout author’s take on the state of Britain, Apr 11). I use the expression “general acceptance” lightly. Not a lot has been done to create any deflection by either our government (this one and the last one) or any of the independence pressure groups.

So far as the people of Scotland appear to be concerned, is more to do with the last Scottish administration and the lack of progress towards independence.

The rise of the Alba party has appeared to be more in opposition to the SNP as opposed to in support via its independence policy.

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The Scottish Government has had to suffer enough criticism and attacks from its opposition parties and the Westminster government without the need for puerile comments from other sources.

The SNP’s membership has been seen, finally, to have substantially declined from a six-figure membership to a five-figure membership. This is bad, and does nothing for the only party available that can formulate Scotland’s independence.

However, it is up to the voting public to achieve the end goal at the ballot box. Around 30,000 people have rescinded their SNP membership. It would seem that not all have joined Alba. How is this surplus voting public going to vote? Are they still concerned about independence? The pundits suggest that support is still around 50%.

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We need 60%-plus, PLUS a majority SNP government. With or without the Greens, Scotland needs to make sure it can achieve a majority SNP government that is also ready to let its membership vote for independence in whichever way that becomes possible.

Alba, the Scottish Socialist Party, the Green Party and any other independence-supporting groups all need to come together, to have positive ideas and solutions to allow the government to create policies that will support an independent Scotland.

That way is the “national convention” way which has been talked about many times in the past. It’s time to stop talking the talk and to walk the walk. As Gerry Hassan’s article concludes, “the new authoritarians are coming to undermine fundamental rights, and if we let them they will ultimately destroy democracy itself”.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

GEORGE Kerevan is right – it is time for Alex Salmond and Michael Russell to talk together about unity in the independence movement (It’s time for Russell and Salmond to get round the table to talk independence, Apr 10).

Every time a country has tried to get out of the British Empire, a serious rift and a wide division has arisen within the independence movement in the country which is attempting to leave. The fact that this has happened, without exception, all over the world testifies to the fact that Westminster and its intelligence systems are expert at creating this.

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It is therefore no surprise that such a division in the independence movement has developed at a time when a majority of Scots look likely to demand independence.

However, real politics is not about personalities or personal feelings, it is about real, objective facts and real objectives. If we look at this issue objectively and ignore personalities, we can see first of all that with the Scottish electoral system it is important that at least two political parties should work in co-operation – even Labour and the Tories can see that. This is required to get the maximum turnout of pro-independence votes and to significantly defeat the Unionists by pro-indy voters voting SNP 1, Alba, Green or Socialist 2.

What is also clear is that there is no significant difference between Alba and the SNP. If we list the important political issues for Scotland we can see that there are no significant differences here while there is a huge difference between us and the Unionists. We both accept that Scotland should have political and economic independence. We both accept significant investment in public services. We both accept a written constitution. We both reject nuclear weapons and nuclear power stations. We both accept a well-funded, free NHS, and free university education.

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All of this would be resisted by the Unionists.

So the matters which might be in dispute between the SNP members and the Alba members are relatively minor and can easily be resolved.

So let us all be serious about independence and let us unite all the forces of independence in an understanding together which will retain the two parties but keep an understanding between them on major policy issues. If we do this we will avoid the trap set for us by MI5 and we will get further support from the Scottish people.

Andy Anderson
Ardrossan

I CONFESS to liking a good laugh and, as ever, Jackie Baillie’s latest pearl of wisdom certainly gave me that. I refer to her advice that we “send a message to the SNP” by voting for “Scottish Labour” at the next General Election. A gem of an idea apart from one wee problem; there is no such thing as “Scottish Labour”. Although I would agree that “Vote for the North British branch office of the Labour Party” doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue, does it?

Malcolm Cordell
Dundee

WELL said, Greum Maol Stevenson (Letters, Apr 11)! It is appalling that Humza Yousaf, who claims to be a republican, is attending the English coronation. He had two other choices, the All Under One Banner rally in Glasgow or the Republicans’ gathering at 3pm at Calton Hill. If he desired, he could send a representative such as his driver to London.

N M Shaw
Edinburgh