I’VE decided I’m not going to be too depressed by the polls. You know, those that say Labour could have a majority of 200-plus, the LibDems could recover ground resulting in 50-plus and the SNP could limp in third with 20 or less.

Can Reform make a breakthrough without a critical mass of party members doing the heavy lifting required at campaign time? Not that I want to see the likes of Farage in Westminster. It was bad enough that proportional representation enabled him to emerge as leader of the 24-member Ukip contingent in the European Parliament. But with or without seats, there is much potential for Farage to cause damage in the months to come.

Could Reform and disaffected Tories do a Canada and morph with the tattered Tory party?

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That the Tories are in decline is inevitable, having governed via five PMs, creating a moral vacuum of sleaze, ineptitude, jobs, and contracts for the boys and gals. Their disregard for national and international law is writ large. And now we’re stuck with what we’ve suffered from over the years: a pendulum swing as the losers lick their wounds and set about recovery, and Labour, who are about to take revenge for their infamous note: “I’m afraid there is no money”. More austerity, just a paler shade of blue.

As the Tories writhe in the agony of a potential wipe-out, they could well be without many of their experienced players in Westminster. Lacking a strong opposition and with the media spotlighting Tory leader election fight-outs or a Reform takeover, Labour will entrench themselves for the long haul.

Just what has Scotland to look forward to then? Are we hoisted on a petard of our own making with a minority of pro-indy MPs? Have we split the vote, ensuring Unionists gain seats despite there being a majority of divided pro-indy constituents? What can we do between now and the elections in 2026? Whatever it is, surely it can’t be more of the same!

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The Campaign for a Scottish Assembly was launched in 1980, a year after the failed 1979 referendum. The Scottish Constitutional Convention was established in 1989, superseding the role of the campaign, having built on the progress in the interim. Winnie Ewing’s spine-tingling words “the Scottish Parliament adjourned on the 25th day of March, in the year 1707, is here-by reconvened” finally rang out in 1999. That was almost a 20-year programme of civic and public participation.

I don’t think I’ve got 20 years, but neither does Scotland. Not with a resurgent Labour convinced that independence is off the agenda, giving it free rein to lie about Scotland being at the heart of (UK) government. That will be nothing more than a few Cabinet posts, a fig leaf of accountability as they rob us blind of remaining and developing assets so urgently required to prop up a failing Britain. A Britain lacking in infrastructures across the sectors, lacking in people to do the work, a Britain where “change” will become synonymous with stagnation and further decline.

Is it time for a convention coming from the people, the morning after the night before?

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh

IT is interesting to note that Scots haven’t voted for a Tory government in a General Election since 1955 – 69 years ago – although we have had a Tory government for two-thirds of that time. The Scots who voted at that time would now be 90 years old at least, as the voters had to be 21 then. The Labour Party meanwhile are advocating change. Of what? They want Brexit, the two-child benefit cap, further finance for Trident, the continued issuing of oil licences and exporting arms to Israel. What do they intend to change?

Margaret Pennycook
Pollokshields