Pro-independence leaders must now heed Alex Salmond’s call for unity

This data clearly demonstrates the potential strength of a unified independence movement. This difference is substantial, representing nearly 25% more votes than Labour received.

Former First Minister Alex Salmon consistently advocated for collaboration among Scottish independence parties, recognising that our current voting system demands strategic unity.

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This data highlights two important points: 1. The strength of pro-independence sentiment in the constituency, and 2. The potential impact of a united pro-independence strategy.

Had the SNP and Alba coordinated their efforts or presented a united front, the outcome of the by-election might have been different. The combined pro-independence vote was clearly larger than Labour’s winning share, suggesting that vote splitting between these parties may have contributed to Labour’s narrow victory.

Consider the 2024 General Election results: Labour secured 37 seats with just 35.3% of the vote, while the SNP, despite garnering 30% of votes, won only nine seats. This disparity underscores the urgent need for a united approach to maximise representation under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system.

Given these realities, we must adapt our strategy accordingly. In FPTP elections, like the recent by-election, “unity” means standing aside for the strongest pro-independence candidate. However, for Holyrood elections, the most effective strategy is “SNP 1/Alba 2”. This approach maximises our representation under the proportional system and could potentially create a supermajority for independence in the Scottish Parliament.

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The SNP, Alba, and the Greens must set aside their differences and focus on our shared common goal: Scottish independence. By presenting a united front for Scottish independence, we could potentially create a supermajority for independence in the Scottish Parliament, providing a definitive mandate for constitutional change.

The data speaks for itself. In the 2024 election, pro-independence parties collectively secured more than 39% of the vote. Imagine the impact if this support were strategically channelled through a coordinated campaign.

We cannot afford to let internal disagreements overshadow our ultimate objective. The people of Scotland deserve a strong, unified voice advocating for their right to self-determination. It’s time for our leaders to heed Alex Salmond’s call for unity and work together to achieve the Scotland we all envision.

The path to independence is clear, but it requires courage, cooperation, and clear strategic thinking. Alba Party Holyrood leader MSP Ash Regan has presented the Scottish Independence Strategy to the SNP.

Let’s learn from the Inverclyde by-election and the recent General Election. United, we stand a far greater chance of success.

Dhruva Kumar
via email

THE SNP continue to drag their heels over a cadastral survey of our country – the prerequisite for a new land value tax (LVT) – despite the Land Commission recommending one in January 2022.

At my instigation Green MSP Mark Ruskell, whose party supports LVT, recently submitted a written question on the matter to the Scottish Government, and received what I and my colleagues in the Scottish Land Revenue Group can only describe as an evasive reply from Finance Secretary Shona Robison. Yet it was Ms Robison who convened the Social Justice and Fairness Commission in 2021, whose report strongly favoured LVT; she clearly has a very selective memory.

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All of Scotland belongs legally to the state, under eminent domain, and it’s high time the land values resulting from public expenditure (especially on infrastructure) were recovered fully for revenue rather than being largely trousered by parasitic “rent-seekers”.

The SNP, despite all their hot air, do not seem inclined to do anything about that, presumably because there are influential rent-seekers in their ranks.

George Morton
Rosyth

I RECALL, when the UK (NOT Scotland or Ireland) voted for the self-harm of Brexit, thinking “well, when things go tits up it will be fun to watch the Brexit nutters wallow in their shame and buyer’s remorse.”

It’s no fun. Brexit has turned out as bad as the sane people predicted – maybe worse and a) watching buyer’s remorse when there is so much collateral damage is grim and b) a lot of them refuse to acknowledge the mess we see all around us every day.

So – America is happier with the felon as president than either of the two competent, decent women candidates that were put up against him.

I’m just saying – there is no upside.

Amanda Baker
Edinburgh