IN 1973, after hearing Winnie Ewing speak at Gordon Wilson’s eve-of-poll meeting during the Dundee East bye-election campaign, I joined the SNP. Until my wife was paralysed in 2004, I was a very “active” activist. I believe it is possible I have climbed more tenement stairs than any other member of the party in Dundee!

In recent months I have been appalled at the amount of i n-fighting and sniping both within the SNP and the independence movement in general. This week I was devastated to read the latest set of allegations and see the banner headlines they were given by just about every paper on display in my local supermarket.

Douglas Ross can hardly contain his glee. I am angry and disgusted by the damage we are self-inflicting at such a crucial time. It represents a kick in the teeth for the tens of thousands who regularly give up their free time to leaflet, canvass, march, etc, etc in support of the independence cause. Personally, I am just about at the end of my tether because we are shooting ourselves not just in the foot but dead centre through the heart.

We will lose substantial support in the Scottish parliament election and BE DEFEATED in indyref2 if this continues. I am going to give it to the end of February and if there has been no change I will resign my SNP membership, stop buying The National , withdraw from the independence movement and stop voting in elections. I am scunnered.

Alan Woodcock
Dundee

ALISON Brown suggests we look to Ireland in our quest of independence. No thanks. The brave Easter Rebellion resulted in many casualties, followed by disgraceful executions and when the Irish MPs walked out of Westminster following the General Election in 1918 and declared Ireland independent they then faced the British army in a war of independence.

This was eventually inadequately resolved by most of Ireland being granted a form of independence in 1922 which resulted in a savage civil war. The proper and sensible way to independence is by an agreed process.

You can call it what you like – shall we say a Section 30 – and this must be pushed through to a conclusion. The more they pretend they can refuse this the more the surviving Unionist dregs in Scotland disintegrate in the face of our democratic rights.

Those who have weakly conceded to the UK bluff and blustering on this issue are suffering from a serious dose of political naivety and are doing the unionists work for them.

Dave McEwan Hill
Sandbank, Argyll

I WOULD like to suggest that after the forthcoming election, when WE have decided on a date for indyref2.

Part of the negotiations about our separation from the rest of the UK will be a return to our original borders circa the 17th century.

Why you might ask? Well we can then regain the lost waters of the North Sea. And the oil, mineral and fishing rights therein.

Something else England has no rights to.

Ian Rankine
via email