WHEN walking in the hills you are always told not to lose height if at all possible, as regaining it is much more exhausting. This is the mistake the SNP is making in the long trek towards independence.

John Drummond on Sunday describes convincingly that the SNP is committed to providing a written constitution which, if put in train, would make clear their commitment to the various rights which would become law in a new Scottish state (Democracy is dead in the United Kingdom – let’s ensure it endures in an independent Scotland, Jul 25). This in turn could easily be done now, as much work has already been done and it is a process which would involve all Scots.

READ MORE: Democracy is dead in the UK – let’s ensure it endures in an independent Scotland

The formal publishing of a constitution would be likely to reassure swithering voters and is more important than setting out a 10-year financial plan. Such financial plans are analagous to stepping on to scree or snowdrift, losing your footing on the shifting material and sliding downwards.

George Kerevan steps on such a surface on Monday when his article gives Kate Forbes a choice between two 10-year plans (Here is why our Finance Secretary needs at least two 10-year plans, Jul 26).

READ MORE: George Kerevan: Finance Secretary needs more than one 10-year economic plan

The Scottish Government does not have a mandate to choose between these courses, having been elected to gain independence. The proposal that we should wait for the outcome of our efforts for ten years is horrifying and should never be considered, for this is what such a plan over such a period implies. We should not give them even a hint of acceptance of such a possibility, when the resolution of all our problems depends on independence.

If my fellow supporters of freedom will forgive the specification, sheep paths always take the easiest route across the hill, but always progress steadily from one contour to another and never go straight down, which the SNP is doing at the moment.

Iain WD Forde
Scotlandwell