IT is not surprising that in nearly every other newspaper in Scotland, and across the UK, we can read subjectively negative comments about the performances of our present and former First Minister, as well as generally narrow one-sided criticisms of the SNP and the Scottish Government. It is disappointing, however, that it is becoming increasingly difficult when reading letters in The National to determine whether contributors are simply frustrated supporters of independence or are agents-provocateurs acting on behalf of a Union in terminal decline.
Certainly this situation is not helped by ex-SNP MPs and MSPs seemingly more focused on pursuing personal vendettas, and current SNP politicians apparently more determined to make their personal views public than to seek other ways to bring about any changes in the party or in the party’s policies that they believe are necessary. Of course constructive criticisms should be encouraged, but resorting to destructive soundbites to attack the SNP with little or no objective context is unlikely to advance the cause of self-determination overall.
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At the heart of all of the examples used to condemn the performance of the SNP-Green Scottish Government has been good intent which may have foundered in application due to political naivety, operational issues, or limited public engagement in a hostile media environment, but this is more than can be said of a number of arrogantly self-centred and often callous Tory UK Government policies.
Those who attack Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP for, in their opinions, not having advanced the cause of independence since the referendum appear to have little appreciation of the fact that it has been no mean feat to have maintained support for self-determination at around 50% given the daunting hurdles strewn in the path of the SNP government in that time and recognising that most political analysts, including Alex Salmond, thought it would be at least another “generation” before support for independence could be grown sufficiently high to win a second referendum.
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That said, the upswell of support following the first referendum and then Brexit gave all independence supporters hope that our common aspiration for Scotland could perhaps be achieved relatively quickly. However, the SNP’s willingness to advance democracy within the UK through holding a mandated referendum was not reciprocated by the UK Government.
Of course this may have been anticipated, and others who now declare that even if sustained polling of 60% in favour of independence is achieved, the UK Government – Tory or Labour – will still not grant another referendum may be correct, but clear public support, confirmed via a public vote (de facto referendum) will provide internationally recognised legitimacy to take more decisive actions, including Scotland’s withdrawal from the defunct Union and the re-establishment of an independent Scottish parliament exclusively representing the people of Scotland.
One thing of which we can all be certain is that the London-controlled media will gladly and ruthlessly exploit every stated difference of opinion within the “Yes movement” and each perceived trace of a crack in the keystone of winning independence, the SNP. The logical counter would seem to be for passionate individuals to find ways to progress self-determination by expressing creative ideas and necessary criticisms in a manner that will help us to strengthen that keystone rather than looking to construct a new bridge to independence which realistically will take significantly longer to build.
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
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