LAST week saw a very interesting Long Letter (July 20) focused on how post-2014, 125,000 or so SNP members appear so different in attitude and behaviour to the pre-2014 25,000 or so SNP members, and different again compared with the much lower SNP membership of the last century. Readers were, however, left with concerns that the new SNP membership appears to be more interested in flag-waving than branch meetings.

READ MORE: Letters: What are all the new SNP members doing? Just waving flags?

What cannot be denied is that some 100,000 new SNP members reflect fair-minded but ordinary members of the public, deciding that the first- and second-generation SNP members had done enough to move Scotland forward towards the 21st century to warrant them joining a political party and supporting the SNP financially with a membership fee.

The catalyst for this wasn’t just seeing the extent of the deception of the UK state in 2013/14, but also the UK state’s palpable desire to stamp out Yes support, visible in George Square after the results were known.

Many new SNP members joined their first AUOB march without flags, just to show that their beliefs would not go away or get back into the Unionist box of acquiescence. Many bought a flag at the second march, a flagpole and fixings for the third, gaffer tape for the fourth etc. Some were apprehensive initially at the possible public reaction to such marches, but generally the welcome received from onlookers has been encouraging, perhaps even swelling the numbers on the next march.

With the UK state and its media stating that there is “no demand” from the people of Scotland to move into the 21st century, the only means left for many is for colourful marches to contradict very visibly the claims of the UK state, showing that there is both demand, and it’s wanted now. When those of a Unionist persuasion tut at the mere notion of a march and/or ask how many people were there, the truth “twice as many as last time” tends to make the point.

There is safety in numbers, and the undecided may take a view that a colourful family march demonstrably expressing a view contrary to that of the UK state is both believable and reassuring. Whilst to many the marches are focused on a fair and independent Scotland for the 21st century, there are also many other flags seeking a fair 21st-century outcome for the EU, Catalonia, and Palestine etc, demonstrating the international approach of the people of this EU nation.

So, in conclusion, the SNP requires the visible support for a fair society via independence from those who march, and those who march for independence and a fair society in turn require the SNP, empowered by a large membership, to push the envelope of current UK state constraints. Flag-waving SNP members would therefore appear

to occupy a central position in the full spectrum of activity required to move to a fair and independent EU nation.

Stephen Tingle
Greater Glasgow

I READ with great interest two articles in The National on Saturday – an investigation by Stewart Ward and Sandy Stronoch’s Long Letter.

The first article dealt with the lack of references to independence in comparison with 2013.

READ MORE: Is it strange that 'independence’ is missing at SNP conference?

It seems to me that the SNP higher echelon has lost all focus on independence, indeed I was astonished that the leadership had discarded out of hand the motion drafted by Angus MacNeil and Chris McEleny setting out an alternative route to independence. Which brings me to another point. What plans do the SNP have in the event of a no-deal Brexit? Wouldn’t that have been a good reason to adopt the previously mentioned motion?

As to the Long Letter, like Sandy I have lived long enough recall the last war followed by Atlee’s election much to the surprise of the Churchillians, the days through the Korean war, the Suez crisis and Anthony Eden’s resignation in 1957.

It was in 1979, after the election of Mrs Thatcher, that I voted SNP after the collapse of the Callaghan Labour government.

I have seen the SNP going from strength to strength until recently, when there seems to be a lot of complacency over independence and a lack of focus. I agree with Sandy that there seems to be an increasing censorship and centralisation, which is something Nicola Sturgeon needs to come to grips with.

G R McKenzie
via email

I FIND my views in accord with your correspondent Malcolm Cordell (Letters, July 19). I too, am a bit sick of those who slag off the SNP. This is the party who had members working so hard, over so many years, to help get us to where we are now. I am in nearly the last age tick-box on surveys, I have lived in this country under English nationalism – and I didn’t realise that for a long, long time. I know now how bad that has been.

READ MORE: Letters, July 19

Readers of this newspaper recognise that independence is nigh. It is time to work together, and that includes recognising the efforts that SNP members have made and continue to make; people who, in my experience, kept the light shining, kept knocking doors, kept working hard and kept being positive about the ultimate aim at times when Scotland did not give the hearty vote to independence that it does now.

I joined the party in November 2014. It wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction to the grief of the referendum, although that was deep and wounding. It took a lot of thought about what needed to be done. I now knock doors. That isn’t always a wonderful experience, but when it is, I go home with a sense of satisfaction that I have done a wee bit to help our ultimate aim. It is why I am proud to be someone who represents a party that cares about each and every one of us who chooses to make Scotland their home.

I do not expect everyone to be part of the SNP. I do ask everyone to stop and think about how this organisation has assisted us to become so confident in our nation. The time is coming, we all know that, and we all know that we will keep together to get there. Soon, very soon, my friends.

Marie Dunbar
Falkirk