I HAVE begun to think that Alex Salmond and Alba are losing the place when they believe that taking votes from the SNP will energise the independence movement. Have they not noticed yet that Westminster completely ignores the existence of any independence-supporting parties other than the SNP?
It is already clear that nothing can stop Labour from gaining a dangerously huge majority from English votes alone, leading to a government which is tantamount to a one-party dictatorship. Not a single Scottish vote will be required to achieve that, and any Scottish vote for any party other than the SNP will simply increase the Unionist strength at Westminster. Just as happened with the Labour-produced Vow in 2014, there will be no need for them to fulfil a single promise.
READ MORE: See the key points in Alba's manifesto ahead of the General Election
Whatever the results, they will read ONLY the SNP result as an indication of the strength of the desire for independence. So even if you believe that the SNP have let you down on independence or in other ways, hold your nose, grit your teeth, but give them your vote this time, or accept that you are setting our goal back for even more years. Then put your efforts into helping to work on the other ways forward that do exist – a Labour government will increase our success.
Perhaps some of those in Alba need to remember a couple of wise sayings – “quit while you are ahead” and “every hero is the architect of his own downfall”.
L McGregor
Falkirk
ELECTION days are days filled with intense hope and expectancy, somewhat like birth-giving days or the hours before kick-off, in fact the day when it all kicks off.
It’s on the next day we meet sober reality, and management of the outcome from the previous day must be faced.
It seems most likely that Scotland shall be overwhelmed with the aspirations of a Labour government in Westminster whether or not Labour actually have more seats than any other party in Scotland.
READ MORE: New General Election poll puts SNP ahead of Labour
Those seeking independence in Scotland must focus on the next election looming just 21 months ahead, when the real battle for authority in Scotland comes with the Holyrood election in May 2026.
Alex Salmond stood down as First Minister following defeat at the referendum in 2014, however he is prepared to add his thoughts to the campaign toward independence. Prior to the Holyrood election in 2021 he suggested to Nicola Sturgeon that his Alba party should work in cooperation with the Scottish National Party toward maximising a pro-independence majority in Holyrood.
Regrettably Sturgeon rather flippantly rejected the suggestion.
While in communication with John Swinney at that time, I put Salmond’s suggestion to him but received no response. It is clear to myself and many others that the SNP and Alba simply must cooperate with one another to overcome the deliberate obstruction to a clear majority for any one party in Holyrood. This would be much as opposition parties have cooperated in the past to avoid such a majority.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer says he didn't know about Labour 'helping Tories' in Scotland
The outcome would ensure that if a majority are in support of independence and vote cooperatively, an independent stronghold can and should prevail.
I believe John Swinney and Alex Salmond are both dedicated to the same cause and whatever their differences in character, the hatchet must be buried on July 5, we must grow up, share common ground, unite as a movement and move forward toward our goal, as suggested in last two paragraphs of Jim Taylor’s Wednesday long letter.
Tom Gray
Braco
IT is time for “fair-weather” SNP supporters to put any personal gripes behind them and to go out and vote for the only party that can put pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to honour the democratic mandate of the last Scottish election and enable Holyrood to call a referendum.
Should Starmer then fail to honour the Holyrood mandate within the first three months of the new Westminster parliamentary term then the Scottish Government must proceed with the establishment of a Constitutional Convention to conclude the best democratic route forward for the people of Scotland to determine the future of their country.
READ MORE: General Election is on 'knife edge', John Swinney warns ahead of polling day
Without progress towards self-determination in the meantime, the next Scottish election in 2026 must become a “de facto” referendum.
Those who fundamentally support independence but are currently inclined to stay at home, or to vote for Alba, or are inexplicably inclined to vote for “New Labour”, should instead vote for the SNP. This shouldn’t be a big ask for Alba supporters, who consider Westminster elections “irrelevant” in spite of Alba contesting seats throughout Scotland.
Voting for the SNP will send a clear message that independence must not be taken off the agenda, and the goal of independence can be achieved within the term of the new Westminster parliament, whether via a direct or a “de facto” referendum.
Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian
RICHIE Venton’s description of the horrors of poverty that exist in 21st-century Scotland is an indictment of both Westminster rule and the collapse of Labour into a red-rosette Tory party (Poverty pay is the prime cause of deprivation, Jul 2). As the billionaire/millionaire class pours money into this so-called Labour Party, there seem to be people who still think they will be getting the ethos of Keir Hardie or Nye Bevan by sticking an X beside these charlatans. The fact is, they will be getting privatisation, Tory-level austerity, booming military expenditure and the continued transfer of wealth from the broad mass of people to Labour’s elite backers.
The twin track of socialism and independence proposed by the Scottish Socialist Party offers the best way out of the situation: harnessing Scotland’s resources to benefit the majority rather than the shareholders of multinational corporates.
David Stevenson
Cambuslang
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