AFTER reading Chris McEleny’s article (Here’s why the SNP must pass the Yes campaign baton, April 30) I was struck dumb in utter disbelief at Mr McEleny’s thinking.

His proposal: “A new team completely independent and free from undue influence of the SNP” delivers what is surely the most glaring divisionary trump card that even Westminster could not have envisaged in their wildest dreams."

Westminster, if nothing else, are unsurpassed masters of divide and rule. The last thing we need is further division, or to hand them the wedge and sledgehammer to complete the job.

Without doubt, the various Yes groups lack an umbrella body to provide a truly coordinated indyref campaign. Equally, they are more than capable of achieving this with the likes of Lesley Riddoch at the helm. But what then?

As it stands, whoever heads up the Yes campaign team has no counterpart to liaise with in the SNP. Furthermore, a united Yes campaign simply cannot undertake the political role of the SNP any more than the SNP are free to mount an effective campaign due to political constraints.

Even if the SNP somehow regain the political initiative, this alone is insufficient. Above all else we need an SNP that will kick itself up its own backside and create a national office bearer with special responsibility to forge a joint plan with their Yes campaign counterpart. A symbiotic indy partnership fronted by Nicola Sturgeon.

Why talk of a nation winning its sovereignty when we already have sovereignty? Our mission is to prevent its further erosion at the very minimum, whilst fighting for the right to wield it. As for the “dream of independence”, stop delivering Unionist propaganda for them by talking of our freedom as if it was some unachievable lottery win.

I agree with Chris McEleny that he and others in the party need to come up with some new thinking, so let’s see some, and please, let's have less of the cringeworthy public relations disasters we read on Monday.

One down, two to go?

Iain Jack
Blairgowrie

THE media, press and politicians may appear to be preoccupied with variations on the theme of Brexit while the majority of people, of whom a large part is made up of the working poor, will be wondering if it will significantly change our lives for the better at all.

It was a tactical decision how we voted in the EU referendum as its real aim was to sort out the Tory party’s internal disputes. The undemocratic EU at its best only diluted Thatcher’s worst excesses. Now it is made up of the most enthusiastic advocates of neo-liberal policies, from every EU country. We saw how its apparatus and rules punished the Greek people for democratically choosing a positive alternative while thinking it could remain part of the bosses’ EU that serves the world’s largest companies. So it’s not accidental that there’s a big distribution warehouse in Fife for Amazon.

However, we could do something very different with an independent socialist Scotland that didn’t depend on deals with either our own Tories or Brussels and its EU. Let’s start with a living wage for proper contracts with minimum hours as well as restoring public services. Maybe our Holyrood politicians could begin to differentiate themselves by opposing or at least not welcoming companies who only bring non-union, low-paid, zero-hours contracts?

Norman Lockhart
Innerleithen

THE Queen song Another One Bites the Dust is apt for the latest Tory resignation of Amber Rudd. To lose a Cabinet minister in one term is careless, to lose four in the space of a few months is bordering on ridiculous. The statement of “strong and stable” is now decidedly “soft and shaky”.

However, it is the language used in these resignations that really irritates me – it’s as if it is not their fault that they have had to resign. Firstly we had Michael Fallon who stated that in the past his behaviour may have “fallen short”. Priti Patel who stated that her “actions fell below the standards of transparency and openness” she had advocated. Damien Green quoted that “he did not download or view” the pornography found on his office computer, and now Amber Rudd says she “inadvertently” misled MPs over government targets for removing illegal immigrants.

What is wrong with these people? Being found out and trying to either deny or attempt some sort of lame excuse only prolongs the inevitable.

Hector Maclean
Glasgow

CAN Theresa May hold onto the keys of No.10 any longer? A question that arises after yet another government minister is forced to resign, the fourth in six months, but considering the issue that has led to the latest resignation (and its history), perhaps it should have been Mrs May herself who should have resigned. But instead Mrs May holds on with yet another Cabinet re-shuffle, while she once again hangs the country out to dry!

The Tory party shenanigans, and more worrying their effects on the country, are merely diverting headlines away from the real worrying issue, that of Brexit. Yet another issue the Conservatives are successfully hanging the country out to dry on with less than a year till we exit the EU. Surely it is just a matter of time till Mrs May does the honourable thing and resigns herself!

Catriona C Clark
Falkirk

MUDDLING May will never take responsibility for her actions. It’s not only the Windrush situation that we have problems with, we also have problems with other unjust policies and deportations. At very least, Scotland needs devolved powers over immigration. At best, independence.

Keith Francis Farrell
via thenational.scot