THE recent statement by Humza Yousaf that he had never been comfortable with the “National” in the party’s name is a fair comment.

Scotland is in the process of finding herself anew through the force of necessity. A new dawn, a new day beckons. Therefore, a change of name for the SNP is entirely reasonable and surely necessary, remembering of course that Labour won the General Election some years back by offering people a fresh start and branding themselves New Labour...

READ MORE: Humza Yousaf: I was never comfortable with 'national' in SNP name

So, how about a change of name to the Scotland Party (SP)? This is new, says everything, is all-inclusive and should suit everyone.

There is a timeless universal saying: “It is better to light a candle, than to curse the darkness”. Scotland being itself/herself IS a candle lit, a sign to the world of many things, of singleness of purpose, of initiative, enterprise, of stand alone yet engaging, shining maturity – the readiness is all and Scotland is ready – the time to go has come.

Charles Mugleston
Felixstowe, Suffolk

I AM fuming! I have just read my National and have come to the conclusion that our esteemed leader has lost the plot. If he does not like NATIONAL in the name of the party then he needs to find somewhere else to play politics.

I am a proud SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY member and I don’t expect drivel like this from the person who is supposed to be our figurehead and take us to independence.

We are down in the polls and after reading this, down in the dumps. We deserve better than this. So Humza, here are your options. Either you apologise to the rank and file or step aside and let someone who is strong for independence and proud to be called a Scottish National Party member.

Old John
Ayrshire

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ON renaming the SNP, I’m thinking SIP – Scottish Independence Party – is fairly unambiguous and obvious.

Chic O’Connor
via email

LES Hunter’s amusing Saturday letter got me thinking about the use of language and how distortions and the deliberate misuse of words are often used by our Unionist powerbrokers to mislead and misinform ... that is when they’re not blatantly lying to our faces. Scottish Nationalist Party?

After the state tortured and killed Guy Fawkes, they decided that that hideous form of death wasn’t sufficient to deter other malcontents. Let’s use propaganda, they decided.

They put about the word “guy” to mean someone stupid, feeble and a general low life. The word emigrated to the Americas soon after, where the slanderous connotations were dropped and any man was called a guy without any ill-meaning.

The Americans sent the word back, and we use it regularly without the original intent.

Hundreds of years later, the “establishment” still dreams up seemingly small, insignificant ways to use language in their never-ending battle against justice and truth.

Jim Butchart
via email

COMPLETELY agree with James Duncan’s view on billboard ads. I don’t know anyone who has read any of the white papers online.

We need in-your-face, simple “benefits of indy” billboard ads or newspaper/TV ads. The SNP need to target on-the-fence voters as well as the people who don’t vote because it makes no difference to their lives. They need to be persuaded that the only way for real, meaningful change is to vote for independence and the SNP.

C Tait
Largs

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I AGREE 100% with James Duncan. However, I’m not sure if his suggestion would infringe some law about expenditure outwith a pre-election campaign period. If that is not the case, go ahead.

The papers look like a box-ticking exercise. The government would be shocked if they did a poll to determine how many folk read them.

We have a Minister for Independence. I hope he’s very busy.

Roddie Macpherson
Avoch

I WATCHED the recent five-minute SNP party political broadcast several times, not because of the quality of its content but to confirm a certain word was not used during it. That word was independence. The broadcast consisted of several women of varying ages telling us about the “free” stuff they benefit from. Examples included “free” prescriptions and “free” bus travel and the cardboard baby box. The word “free” was repeated eight times in the broadcast. Carer’s Allowance, which is currently a UK benefit, was mentioned. It was implied that the council tax freeze was helping the least well-off the most, something which is plainly untrue.

The broadcast ended with a rather dull two-minute monologue from the First Minister to inform us, in essence, that if we don’t continue to vote SNP we might lose some or all of the “free” stuff.

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The occasional five-minute slot on peak time, national TV is a precious resource to political parties. I only wish the SNP would use theirs to reinforce not the myth that we are a nation dependent on “free” stuff from benevolent governments, but that we could do so much more with the powers of an independent nation.

Without independence, given the forecasts for the Scottish Government’s budget position over the next few years, much of the “free” stuff may well be coming to an end in the not-too-distant future regardless of the General Election result.

Glenda Burns
Glasgow