AFTER this holiday period we will be entering into a new year with an answer at last to the Brexit issue. We now know it will be a very limited trade deal, or no trade deal, and we do not need much imagination to understand that this will hit the UK economy very badly. Of course it’s an ill wind that blows no-one any good, with Boris Johnson’s hedge-fund backers coming out of it much wealthier.

The UK will still be facing increasing numbers of Covid-19 virus infections, more hospitalisations and more deaths and of course further economic damage from that, to hit further the living standards of those who survive it.

So what people need is a way out of this mess and a way forward. The vaccine offers some help here.

Most Scots can see that the UK “Union” is dead, because it does not offer a way out of the mess, all it offers in a slow return to “normality” with a huge increase in austerity to force the ordinary working people to pay off the debt in order to ensure that the wealthy elite continue to increase their wealth.

While the Scottish people are not prepared to go back to that, and are now consistently making that clear in opinion polls, it is obvious, and increasingly clear, that the Scottish people want an alternative political programme. The SNP offering independence is good, but is far from sufficient.

Independence must mean something tangible if it is to be supported in a referendum and not just an opinion poll.

The SNP must abandon the Andrew Wilson addiction of sticking with Sterling and therefore austerity, and offering nothing new. The people have seen that, they’ve tried it, and they have rejected it, they need a much better vision to look forward to.

I believe that the Alex Salmond/Alex Neil plan published on December 1 is a very good base for the plan which the SNP need. It addresses the questions of employment, training, housing, economic growth, sustainability, equity in distribution and a programme relevant to all parts of Scotland both urban and rural, Highland or Lowland, island or mainland.

READ MORE: Alex Salmond unveils strategy to get Scotland onto its feet after pandemic

This plan would combine nicely with a fiscal policy based on a land tax of the nature proposed by Graeme McCormick and would be an ideal basis for the SNP’s proposed programme for an independent Scotland, because it would give people a vision of the nature of the new Scotland we wanted to build. Now the plan might not work out exactly as envisaged, no plan ever does, but it will give people a vision of the future which will work out and help us to build the society which most Scots want.

If the SNP want to maintain their position as the leading political force in Scotland they must now start seriously to give the Scottish people a vision of our independent future and the Salmond/Neil plan gives an excellent base for this to be built on.

Andy Anderson
Saltcoats

SELMA Rahman’s letter on Saturday (Brexit hasn’t freed the UK – it has brought its demise even closer) raises some interesting questions, especially for those in Scotland who supported Brexit. Perhaps not surprisingly many of those who were vocal in their support for leaving the EU have been relatively silent as the debacle of right-wing Tory-dictated negotiations have unfolded. The Withdrawal Agreement along with terms of a possible trade deal will result in a significantly more disadvantageous relationship with our neighbours than what was presented to the public prior to the referendum.

Of course Brexit has been welcomed by Donald Trump and far-right politicians across Europe, but one wonders if Jim Sillars, Alex Neil, and others who support our democratic right to self-determination now have any regrets over their personal contributions to bringing about Scotland’s current predicament?

Certainly one can sympathise with their genuine concerns regarding the socio-democratic credentials of the EU and calls for fundamental change.

However, it seems difficult to justify the increased hardship that many of the poorest and most vulnerable are going to suffer from January 1 under a UK Government regime that has repeatedly demonstrated its priority of furthering the interests of the wealthy (as recently evidenced in the “direct awards” of numerous PPE contracts) who also unsurprisingly have been major backers of both the Tory party and Brexit.

While public contrition may be unlikely one can hope that those who have seemingly sought to place immediate personal political objectives ahead of securing Scotland’s independence from this morally and economically debilitating union can now positively focus their talents and efforts on helping to deliver the “constitutional reformation” that will enable the vast majority of our citizens to realise the beginning of a truly more egalitarian society that we can be confident and proud to bequeath to future generations.

Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian

TO all fellow scribblers, friends and indeed opponents may love, laughter and life carry you forward in these dark and troubled times. With warmest greetings I quote this rustic old cowboy verse, in the firm belief that the power and goodness of the human spirit will prevail.

The grass is short, the range is dry
Good prospects ain’t a half inch high
The cows ain’t fat, this verse ain’t clever
But Merry Christmas same as ever

I send good prospects to all, joy at Christmas and best wishes for 2021. Enjoy the magic of the moment, as love lingers in the beauty of a rose, the promise of a sunrise and the warmth of a smile – Slainte Mhath!

Grant Frazer
Newtonmore