I HAVE to express both my delight and clear support for the decision made regarding the General Election as the vehicle for declaring independence on the achievement of the majority of seats. The passing of this resolution with the attendant amendments has at last made it clear, particularly for the activists and independence supporters, of the direction of travel over the coming months to the General Election.

The emphasis now on WHY independence is important for the wellbeing and future prosperity of our nation will be front and centre of all strategies going forward. Clearly the inclusion of the various amendments, particularly the constitutional convention and a robust marketing campaign, will ensure we achieve the biggest possible majority of seats.

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The various negative reactions I have observed leave me frustrated and surprised – not from the opposition and the ranting anti-SNP/independence press who I expect to “ rip to shreds” anything we decide, but some of the reactions within the independence movement itself.

Let me start with the party support for the “majority of seats” resolution. I was there and witnessed the proceedings. Here was the membership of a party being provided with the opportunity to decide our way forward on independence and they did so with a full, frank discussion on the merits or otherwise of the proposal before them. The decision/vote in that hall was overwhelming, no ifs/no buts. The party membership has spoken and the decision made. Yet we still had members, some senior in the party, reluctant to accept this totally democratic decision. Can I suggest they stop carping from the wings, show solidarity, and make the decision of the party work or take the opportunity to assess their position in the party?

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In relation to the press and media negative reaction, it is my belief that they are running scared now that the SNP are united under a new initiative of which they cannot really second-guess the outcome. They will of course suggest that it is doomed before it starts. How do they know that? Only time will tell.

One last observation. I was disappointed at the number of negative responses on the membership’s independence decision at conference expressed in The National. The democratic will of the party has been expressed loud and clear; accept it and let us unite going forward. This momentous decision was made by the rank-and-file of the party, not a leader or a cabal within the party but card-carrying members in the full glare of the public at large. Compare this to the sterile Conservative, Labour and LibDem conferences we have recently witnessed, with their presidential pre-prepared decisions delivered to their acquiescent silent followers. It is clear where democracy has been seen and heard. Bring on independence. Keep the faith.

Dan Wood
Kirriemuir

SO it’s been decided then, it’s seats not votes cos them’s the Westminster rules. The very same rules that allowed a crazy buffoon called Johnson to form a government with an 80-seat majority on 43.6% of the popular vote.

Of course the red tories or the party formerly known as Labour, should they becomes kings of the dung heap, will say no to a majority of independence-toting MPs of whatever stripe, be it a meagre majority of 50%+1 ie 29 seats or an unlikely tsunami of all 57, with new boundaries and all that.

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But that’s when it gets really interesting because that’s when we say “enough” and give notice of the end of the Treaty of Union and set to work to create a draft constitution which includes all the best bits of the “why” of independence. Then, taking a leaf out of the latest disrupter’s manual, we put the draft constitution to a referendum with Edinburgh rules having told Westminster no more can they interfere with our democratic rights.

And that’s a draft a constitution that allows protection for the Scottish Health Service because it’s enshrined in the constitution, the end of nukes because it’s in the constitution, a people-owned Scottish Power Company protected by the constitution.

And let’s not forget this is the means to give hope to young people for a future in a fair and equitable country because it’s in the constitution.

Yep Westminster rules, a majority of seats and a copy of the disrupter’s manual suits me just fine.

Iain Bruce
Nairn

HUMZA Yousaf is right, we should focus on the “why” rather than the “how” of independence. The three Unionist Westminster parties have not only locked the door to independence, they believe that they have thrown away the last remaining key. If the SNP shows enough people what lies behind that door and why it could improve the lives of everybody in Scotland, somebody will appear who can open the door with a forgotten key or pick the lock or just put a boot through the door.

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

IN line with the Scottish political conference scene I welcome the support of Edinburgh University’s Professor Lindsay Paterson and his research on independence going back to 1979, the year of the first referendum for devolution. His firm conclusion, like that of Sir John Curtice, is that support for independence “is not going away” and a majority of “above 60%” will happen in the very near future.

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The research, now published in the journal The Political Quarterly, also concluded that “the level of support for independence, and of opposition to it, are unlikely to be effected by the transient fortunes of the SNP”.

It’s now abundantly clear that young Scots, and indeed people born since the late 1960s, are pushing the Yes campaign for independence, irrespective of any party-political agenda.

Grant Frazer
Newtonmore