APART from the result, which I am still coming to terms with, one thing was very clear to me on Friday morning, namely, the need for a Scottish media telling us what is going on from a Scottish perspective.

Watching Westminster MPs plus Farage discussing the result with few Scots represented and Dimbleby, etc, pontificating about the process was almost completely irrelevant. References to the very different result in Scotland were brief, shots of the First Minister’s press conference curtailed and discussion of it perfunctory.

As I had to go out, I set the recorder to catch a programme labelled as Politics Scotland but when I returned and tried to watch it, it was just more comment from London.

It is obviously going to be more and more important that we obtain control of the way news is reported in Scotland. Can we persuade the excellent BBC Alba to beef up their news programme and provide subtitles for it, and possibly produce a discussion programme along the lines of Eorpa but dealing with Scottish and UK issues? It doesn’t look as if BBC Scotland has the will and STV don’t have the budget.

Ann Rayner
Edinburgh


Inspiring to hear from No voters switching to Yes

FORMER No voter and Daily Mail journalist Alexander Lerche wrote a positive and thought-provoking letter describing why he has moved from voting No to Yes in respect of indyref2 (Letters, June 25).

When a Daily Mail reporter changes their vote from No to Yes, that to me is a significant event.

Like many Yes voters, I am very cautious about indyref2. As one of the 1,617,989 who voted Yes on September 18, 2014, I find the scars of the days, weeks and months that followed still run deep. I don’t want to lose indyref2. For many it literally is a matter of life and death. Google three words: “welfare, reform, deaths”.

From the tectonic political events of last week, there are a significant number of No voters emerging who are beginning to understand how disingenuous the Better Together campaign and that Vow have been. It is an excellent response to an otherwise torrid Brexit campaign that folk such as Alexander Lerche write and detail how and why they are now moving from No to Yes.

Might I implore all readers of The National to read Alexander’s letter - and many similar cases?

Many of us in Scotland have a propensity to talk about yes voting amongst ourselves. We need to moderate that habit. To start debating beyond our comfort zone of yes voting friends. A critical key in succeeding with IndyRef2 is to engage the Daily Mail readership and those of that ilk. Not an easy task. Persuading hard core right wing people may be a hopeless cause.

But if every single yes campaigner can persuade just one no voter to change to yes, then I believe IndRef2 will have a vastly different result to IndyRef1

We have to get this right. IndyRe2 is not just a political remedy. For many people with disabilities - anyone who will need the NHS (all of us at some point), Scottish independence will be life changing. In fact life saving. Anyone with an ounce of societal decency should consider persuading that magical number of 7% who voted no to move to yes. By so doing, we ensure the 2014 plebiscite result of 45% goes to 59% yes. That will do nicely thank you.

More letters like that one please. I for one learned a lot from it and will ensure best efforts from this end at persuading one or two of my No-voting friends to leave the dark side and help us get our country back from those toxic Tories.

Russ McLean
Carnoustie


I HAVE quite a few EU neighbours, as I am sure have many of my friends. Since the EU result they have been playing heavily on my mind. So I have posted some homemade cards through their letterboxes offering them my support. If you have any neighbours that are EU citizens. I urge you to do something to tell them we want them here. This is the text I used:

“This has been playing on my mind ever since the EU Ref result came in. I’ve been too scared to knock your door to tell you this, as I don’t want to come across badly, so I wrote it down.

“I want to let you know you are valued. No matter what the EU Ref result. Scotland wants you here, I want you here, my family wants you here, our First Minister wants your here and we will continue the fight to make sure every family, every person who has chosen to make Scotland their home remains here.

“The minute you decided to bring your life here, you were a Scot in my eyes, in my family’s eyes and in my friends’ eyes.

“To be a Scot is not a blood thing, it’s not about where you were born, it’s a mental attitude, it’s a mentality about building a life, about improving our society for AllOfUs.

“I’m sorry if this is too raw, if it’s just plainly silly. All I am trying to say is that we support you being here unconditionally and despite this EU Ref result we are there for you.”

Barry Graham
Bathgate


I WAS disappointed but philosophical after the referendum result in 2014 but the outcome of the EU referendum has left me stunned, disappointed, angry and emotionally drained.

In my lifetime there has never been a UK decision so damaging to our citizens and to the spirit of internationalism.

The North American who turned to me in a shop and said, “I’m glad Scotland voted to stay”, and the shop assistant elsewhere who said, “I’m proud that we voted to stay in”, both mirrored my immense pride in Scotland’s voters.

A Scottish social democratic nation within Europe is waiting in the wings: think about it.

Colin Campbell
Johnstone


LAST Friday’s EU referendum result was the bleakest day in recent UK history and the reasons for the result can be found in the performance of the various party leaders.

David Cameron attempted to win by Project Fear Mark 2, following the Scottish independence referendum, and in doing so assembled the usual motley crew of business “leaders” including the chairman of right-wing-led Standard Life’s Chairman Gerry Grimstone, who can always be relied upon to parrot the Conservative line on whatever reactionary opinion the Government wants to promote. No-one listens to such establishment figures anymore and why should they?

Labour’s Jeremy Corbyn proved finally why he is the worst Labour leader in history. His job was to galvanise the Labour heartlands in England and Wales for a Remain vote. He failed dismally and must now be replaced if his party are to have any relevance in future.

Tim Farron of the Liberal Democrats was almost invisible in the campaign – a sad reminder that the once-important Liberal Democrats are no longer the conscience of the UK that they once were.

Finally, Nicola Sturgeon. Her one job in this campaign was to deliver a Remain vote from Scotland. She succeeded and in doing so honourably refused to pander to right-wing prejudice on immigration.

In the aftermath of an appalling and downright nasty campaign with a horrid result, Nicola Sturgeon is the only party leader in the whole of the UK to emerge with any credit.

Gavin Fleming
Edinburgh


AFTER being under the yoke of England for so long perhaps I was naive in hoping for my Welsh cousins to exhibit a degree of national pride.

Having always given the benefit of the doubt to our Welsh kin I sadly must now tacitly withdraw it and look forward to a Scotland free to find our potential – no more, no less.

The referendum result is the people’s will. These, however, are not my people. I look forward to a better country, a fairer country, an independent Scotland. A Scotland who takes back control.

Peter Barjonas
Latheronwheel