SNP MP Angus MacNeil is again floating the idea of a tunnel to Mull. At a casual glance this idea may seem to be attractive. However, when you start to consider the paramount needs of those who live on the island and the impact on the infrastructure, maybe this is not the wisest solution.

The greatest need of the islanders is to access Oban and if necessary to travel onwards to Glasgow etc. The shortest route to the mainland is from Fishnish to Lochaline on Ardnamurchan. This is many miles from either Oban or even Fort William and involves using many more miles of single-track roads and a second small ferry at Corran. The route taken by the current Oban to Craignure ferry is much longer.

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Many of the roads on Mull are single-track and the geography and geology of the island would make an upgrading to double-track either impossible or hugely damaging to the fabric of the island.

I can see how linking a chain of isolated islands such as the Faroes would be useful to the inhabitants, but the Faroes are protected by their isolation from an influx of drive-on, drive-off, short-term visitors. Mull’s charm is in what it is as an island. The bridge to Skye has brought disadvantages in its wake and much of the year, in spite of great natural beauty, it is unpleasantly overcrowded. It seems we kill the things we love. If you doubt this, think of Venice, which has lost many of its residents other than those who make a living from tourism.

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A recent poll showed that the preference of the inhabitants of Mull was new ferry fleet and upgraded piers. A switch to the Catamaran type of ferry which offers a streamlined service carrying fewer cars but able to achieve a faster turnaround and therefore increase the number of journeys would seem to offer a better and less damaging solution. Places could also be reserved for islanders whose travel is usually essential.

Maybe it is time to listen to the locals?

Jennie Smith
Limekilns, Fife

THANK you to Frances Earnshaw in Sunday’s paper (Apr 17) for answering the question “Why has independence support dropped from a 58% peak last year?” I hope Frances does not mind me using data from her letter.

The answer is the GRA legislation. The SNP policy on restricting women’s rights is probably going to lose us independence.

Frances highlighted that in January 2021 the female vote for indy was 60% Yes and 40% No. At that time we had a poll giving overall support for indy at 57% Yes and 43% No.

Roll onto this year, with a poll in March putting overall support for indy at 47% Yes and 53% No. That poll also showed that the female support for indy had changed to 43% Yes and 57% No.

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Male support for independence had dropped from 54% to 51% between Jan 2021 and March 2022. So the drop we have witnessed for independence over the last 14 months is primarily the female vote.

It was January 2021 when the SNP and later the Greens started to push GRA reform, with the subsequent storm of letters and news articles in the print and electronic media. The data above appears to prove the consequences of this policy.

The party needs to verify this apparent effect of the GRA and act accordingly. To lose indy due to this would be catastrophic to us all, and also for the SNP at the next Scottish Holyrood vote. I note that Alba’s policy on this supports women’s rights.

My wife and I have voted SNP since 2007, although like many other women my wife will not support the SNP or Greens any more due solely to the GRA legislation. She will still vote Yes for independence as this is a different topic but I suspect that many women link the SNP to independence. A real concern.

Robert Anderson
Dunning

I WONDER how many Scots have been annoyed by the “Britishing” of so many products – particularly food, in supermarkets – in the last year or so. Union flags literally all over the shop.

Perhaps the British government has set up a “(British!) Carrot-and-(Big)Stick” Department to “persuade” retailers that is their patriotic duty to remind the pesky Scots that they are still British subjects. A sprinkling of knighthoods and the threat of cancelled contracts always concentrates minds...

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In any event, the last straw for me was to find bunches of the humble daffodil in Marks and Spencer labelled “British Daffodils – proudly grown in Britain” with, of course, a Union Flag. Twenty minutes earlier I had driven past acres of Perthshire daffodils: surely M&S – and other big retailers – support local businesses?

Surveys have shown that Scots prefer to buy Scottish produce (it’s usually better, eg strawberries, anyway) and dislike it being branded “British”. (No sensible person, by the way, could object to English products being labelled as such).

Forcing “Britishness” on us in this crass way won’t work; it’s too late for that.

David Roche
Coupar Angus