We must recognise how important the Brexit issue is to people

Just as dodgy right-wing politicians motivate and activate the racist population by scapegoating minorities in such a way that the general population don’t spot the tactic (dog-whistle politics), honourable and principled politicians can achieve their objectives too without even mentioning them. In concentrating some of her time on halting Brexit, Nicola Sturgeon will gradually win over Scots to the idea of independence. Young Scots (and some older ones like me) want a leader with an international perspective. They have no interest whatsoever in politicians who turn their backs on English allies in the remain movement. We nationalists cannot live in a bubble and must recognise that Brexit, not independence, is the all important major current issue for most Scots.

Even if we miraculously remain in the EU after another referendum, England is going to still struggle with chronic, perpetually disruptive euro-scepticism. That, along with all the major policy initiatives achievable by an inclusive and caring, centre-left Scottish Government, will still provide motivation enough for Scotland to forge an independent path. Indyref2 can be effectively timed if we wait and see the political landscape with greater clarity a few short months from now.
David Crines
Hamilton

I AM appalled at the conduct of the British Government.

The situation keeps getting more complex and the electorate are beginning to just want to see the back of it.

Yes, the electorate are getting impatient and blaming the EU, who say: “These are the rules, and you made them as well as all the other countries, so what’s the beef?” (In the referendum, 33 million votes were cast: 17 million for Leave and 16 million for Remain. Turnout was 72% – so 13 million did not vote. Scotland voted 62% to 38% to Remain. Just reminding.) In any event we are now heading for a no-deal scenario, which does not mean we continue as we are, but that we leave the EU with no safety net at all. From what we can tell, the Tory Party are split, the Labour Party are split, one never knows what the Liberals are doing, but the DUP is officially supporting the Tories – at least until the £1 billion bribe runs out! Incidentally, Mrs May laughs at Jeremy Corbyn when he’s asking questions, but she doesn’t laugh when Ian Blackford is on his feet. Think about that.

As we hear that 3500 soldiers are standing by to help with the ports and more border officials are being employed, and EU nationals are either not coming or not staying, medicines are being stockpiled, and food stored, you would think that the penny would have dropped by now – the pound has! All the portents they predicted for Scotland are looming, and they nod sagely and carry on regardless. The Scottish politicians (two SNP, two Labour, two Green) got the answer – Article 50 can be stopped or even just suspended and things left as they are. However, they keep harping on about what the people voted for and if they apply it can be done; failure to do this is a gross dereliction of duty – they only see words as meaningful if they utter them.

It is no coincidence that the well-off are not concerned. The poor people will fare even worse than today, but the rich do not care. “I’m all right, Jack” has become “I’m all right, Claude”.
Jim Lynch
Edinburgh

THE naked and aggressive ambition of Tory ministers and MPs is frightening. Their cavalier attitude towards the untold damage they are prepared to inflict upon the United Kingdom to further their ambitions is despicable beyond words. Mr Hunt with his “The UK will thrive outside the EU” and Ms Mordaunt with “A managed no deal”, among other ludicrous declarations being voiced by Johnson, Mogg and others, is sickening in its transparency. If any of them came up with a business plan other than “we can trade with the rest of the world” then maybe they could start to be taken seriously.

Another matter of concern is the BBC still showing Boris Johnson’s bus with the big lie of £350 million per week on the side. Nobody in government or opposition has advertised the true net contribution which comprises the automatic rebate, the one-third reinvestment (both negotiated by Mrs Thatcher) and the benefits to trade. Taken together these may well approach cash neutral.

Under the rules for the first referendum on devolution for Scotland, James Callahan’s government required the poll to achieve over 40% support of all registered voters. The Leave Europe campaign only achieved 37.4% after excluding 16 and 17-year-old citizens (with a vested interest in the future) and former Europeans. Is this the democratic will of the people that Mrs May keeps repeating?

Mike Underwood Linlithgow I SEE that Vladimir Putin is encouraging May to push on and ensure Brexit goes through. Coming from a head of state whose critics and opponents come to suspiciously sticky ends, who is self-evidently behind illegal invasions of neighbouring countries, whose defectors are killed by reckless use of deadly poisons, whose richest supporters, if they don’t divert a big enough slice of the pie to him, find themselves indefinitely imprisoned – this really ought to make May stop, think again, and change direction.

Since, however, that would require on her part the possession and application of some intelligence, probity and moral judgement (not to say simple common sense), I am not holding my breath.
Colin Stuart
Saline, Fife

I HAVE advocated the case for Scotland to be a free and independent nation ever since I came to work, stay and settle in Scotland 20 years ago. I have marched and written to my local and national newspapers to argue for full and true independence.

One thing I find difficult to understand: what is the national song for Scotland? I don’t mean the UK national anthem, which, even as a born Englishman, I have never been comfortable with and have always refused to sing. I regard myself as a citizen, not as a subject.

Is it Flower Of Scotland by the Corries, or Scots Wha Hae, from Robert Burns? Both are evocative tunes and remember times, battle defeats and victories from centuries past.

My point is this: it is good to remember and revere the past history of a nation. I always look forward to Hamish MacPherson’s weekly account in The National. I have learned a lot from him and also from Michael Fry, especially from his book about the 1707 Union saga. But, in my opinion, to enthuse people and rouse their spirits, a good song with a positive message is essential. What’s better to my mind is a song from The Proclaimers. I suggest a version of 500 Miles, for example, “And we would walk 10,000 miles, to see our Scotland free and true, and to stand so strong on our Earth so blue, and to resume our place in the world anew”.

As for a national anthem, what about either or both of Robert Burns’ poems A Man’s A Man For A’ That” and/or Auld Lang Syne, depending on the occasion. Both are timeless and carry a message beyond petty nationalism from anywhere in the world.

As I have stated, I am an Englishman by birth and would not wish to be thought of as telling natural born Scots how to define themselves, but I think that a new, modern and positive national song would resonate with many people. In my view, 500 Miles is just the song to do this.

And Roberts Burns would really complement this as he surely would if he were to be living today to see and hear his words and thoughts put into practical and effective use.

What do you think?
Michael Clarke
Langholm

A NATIONAL anthem is a patriotic musical composition evoking and celebrating the history, traditions and struggles of its people.

God Save The King or Queen does not fulfil those criteria in any way for Scotland.

As independence approaches surely Scotland needs to compose a national anthem, “reflecting our times”, to be played when that union flag is lowered for the final time and our Saltire takes its rightful place.

Until that independence comes upon us, such an anthem might be played at formal gatherings.

Such an anthem also displays intent.
Bob Cotton
Queensferry

ON Wednesday at a full meeting of South Lanarkshire Council a motion by the Independents Group to give free nursery places to all three year olds on their third birthday was defeated by a motion proposed by the Tories and accepted by the ruling group, designed to kick the issue into the long grass.

Currently children born for example in September are entitled to a nursery place but only qualify for a free place in the following January. They can take up a place on his/her birthday provided they pay for the place for four months until January.

For parents who can afford it this is fine. For disadvantaged parents who have no hope of paying nursery fees for a week, never mind four months, this is an impossibility.

Nicola Sturgeon wants to close the attainment gap.

It is perhaps time for her to make this clear to her SNP councillors.

As a former SNP member for 50 years and an SNP councillor for 17 years I am appalled that SNP councillors have apparently adopted the age old tactic of making the disadvantaged in our society pay for their political ineptitude.

Cllr Jim Wardhaugh
Independents Group,
South Lanarkshire Council

AS Christmas fast approaches, there is an advert on my TV asking me to donate £3 a month to a well-known children’s hospital. Followed by a programme discussing the further £4,200,000,000 the UK Government is now spending on Brexit. Has the world gone completely mad?
Brian Lawson
Paisley

I ENJOYED reading Kevin McKenna’s article on the Christmas season (Wealth, capitalism and excess ... the season of joy and goodwill is upon us, December 19).

May I just say though, that, despite what he says, the world needs a Saviour.

Kingdoms, empires, and governments have risen and fallen as, indeed, also have various branches of religion and denominations of churches, but Jesus Christ, our Saviour, is “the same yesterday, today and tomorrow” (Hebrews 13:8).

So may God bless you, Kevin, this Christmas.
Charlotte Hunter
via email