IT is quite clear that Boris Johnson will now become the non-elected prime minister of the UK, with an unassailable lead from the first vote of Tory MPs and the other candidates scratching around for second place.

This spectacle will be supplemented by approximately 120,000 Tory members votes and Boris will finally be anointed. With the whole of Remain Scotland mere bystanders, my dream/nightmare scenario expressed in a previous Long Letter in The National is sadly becoming a reality. I now wait with baited breath for the most right-wing Tory government, supported by their loyal lieutenants in Scotland led by Colonel Ruth, to extricate themselves from Europe and prepare for the “one-nation” Conservative Great Britain!

The dismantling of devolution will be started forthwith and independence aspirations stopped dead in their tracks. From various articles in The National last week, it is clear that this prime ministerial election horror show only engenders worry and concern for the future.

Scotland and the SNP must, at every opportunity, OUT the Tories – a strategy to show the people of Scotland that we will not stand idly by as the Tory reactionaries destroy what has been achieved by Scots and Scotland to improve the welfare and lives of our people. The road shows of Ian Blackford and Mhairi Black should be revved up and Alyn Smith should unashamedly, after Brexit, woo the EU, who will by then be free of England/UK.

Angus Robertson should poll and ask people continually about the future after Brexit and Boris – take the focus down south.

The Citizens’ Assemblies should be activated and harnessed as soon as possible. Other big hitters in the party need to be given specific tasks to bring the public on side.

There are many initiatives that can be put in place to out and expose the Tory bandwagon post Brexit. The whole SNP infrastructure needs to be harnessed at the activist, branch and constituency level.

The wonderful Yes movement and the Green Party need to be brought on board so that all independence activities are co-ordinated and driven forward.

Meanwhile, the First Minister takes the moral higher ground on all occasions and the big hitters of the party take the direct flak which will surely come. The First Minister should not micro-manage the strategy but become the strategic figure in our drive for independene.

Finally, and I do not overstate this, never before has our democracy in Scotland been under the potential threats that are about to unfold. It is our job to ensure that not only do we have to articulate and communicate at every level of Scottish society the threats we face, but ensure very quickly the actions we need to take to prevent and stop the Tory leadership as they go for the “New British Empire”!
Dan Wood
Kirriemuir

I have a few points on Ruth Davidson’s indyref2 comments the Tory beauty parade for leader and prime minister.

Firstly, if, as Ruth is demanding, in order for a Section 30 order to be granted the SNP achieve an outright majority at the next Holyrood election, does this mean the Scottish Tories will support the request? Perhaps a journalist should ask her .

Secondly, prime minister Theresa May was forced out by her own MPs. Whoever succeeds her will be Tory leader and prime minister. What if it was made the law that no matter which party was in power, if this happened again, there would have to be a General Election within, for example, two months?

Thirdly, once the beauty parade gets whittled down to the final two contestants, how about they give a public assurance they will not serve in each other’s Cabinets?

Fourthly, they should publish before the vote who they want in their Cabinet, why, and what promises have been made.

And finally, I don’t think Ruth Davidson should have publicly endorsed anyone, as she will have to work with the winners.
David Ritchie
North Ayrshire