THE redoubtable Lesley Riddoch makes some very salient points in her article about the re-population of the Highlands and the radical reform required on land and planning (Why I said I might set up a new party to challenge SNP (only after indyref), October 17). Her views are especially welcome as they do not only relate to land and planning issues in the Highlands.

Within the Johnstone town centre part of my ward there are several private properties that have been semi-derelict for the best part of a quarter of a century. In these cases local authorities are afraid to seek compulsory purchase, and despite the best intentions of the Community Empowerment Act, no-one would asset transfer these buildings in their current state of decline. This is frustrating to say the least for councillors and local communities.

READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: Why I might make a new party after indyref2

On the wider question of whether an “Ourselves Alone” approach by the SNP is preferable to a complementary yet competing number of pro-independence parties, I would urge readers to look at the sound logic of the argument which Ms Riddoch advances when she states “political parties are not ideas incubators, but electoral machines that respond to electoral threat”.

This is borne out by the lessons of history, and even when such new parties have ultimately failed electorally they have often left behind a potent legacy. For example, the 1980s Social Democratic Party was the midwife of New Labour just as the 1970s Scottish Labour party had a lasting influence on the kind of party the SNP became in the 1980s and 90s.

The historic legacy of the SNP will be to have kept the flame of Scottish independence alive during many dark decades when both electoral indifference and Unionist hostility often threatened to extinguish it, and that sacrifice should never be forgotten. But between 2012 and 2014 it was the broad diversity of the wider Yes movement with its myriad voices which swelled the campaign forward, and those who believe in Scottish democracy and sovereignty with passion have no need to fear a diversity of parties which advocate it, because it is the destination itself which is important, not the colour of the vehicle or who is driving it.

Cllr Andy Doig (Independent)
Renfrewshire Council

FURTHER to the questioning of the two young SNP members by BBC radio, I would like to ask the BBC how much of the so-called 80% of our trade with the rest of the UK actually leaves Scotland.

We could start with supermarket chains and then look further afield. Is Scottish produce in Tesco and Asda, for example, classified as Scottish UK trade because these two (and others) are not headquartered in Scotland?

Perhaps we could put the BBC under the scope of the microphone and ask the interviewer of the two youngsters some other pertinent questions he was never prepared for.

Kenneth Mailer
Stenhousemuir

NORMALLY when you hear of businesses getting involved in the Scottish independence debate it means RBS or Tunnocks are back again, with threats of moving to England should we ever consider leaving their “precious” Union.

It therefore takes nerves to back the Yes movement when you are a new company performing in a competitive market, yet this is just what Edinburgh Banners have been doing for the past two years. Thanks to them and Yes Musselburgh/Indy Buggy, a few thousand AUOB marchers and spectators now own free personal YES/Bu Choir /It’s Time for Independence banners.

Sam Dryden of Edinburgh Banners is no stranger to risk, being a deep-sea solo sailor, and so has gone further with a discount scheme on all printed products, ie everything from fliers to luminous and magnetic signs. The offer is exclusive to indy folk who need simply search “Edinburgh Banners” using the code YES2020. And yes, the saving is 20%.

Fraser McAllister
Musselburgh

NEWS in The National of the introduction of 20 red squirrels to an area of the Highlands by Trees for Life and Woodland Trust for Scotland illustrates sensible activity. Last week I lifted a squashed young squirrel off the road as cars pounded past. Let us hope these newly released animals avoid the “North 500 in 24 hours”, a fashionable racing car jaunt round the Highlands which passes for sane behaviour in today’s jet-set minds.

Iain R Thomson
Strathglass

ON Monday The National reported that Transport Secretary Humza Yousaf criticised SNP for putting up an all-white roster of candidates for the next Westminster election (Yousaf attacks SNP’s all-white Westminster candidate list, October 14). Not one candidate came from an ethnic minority. The SNP did not respond to requests for a comment. This is a serious failing on the part of any political party. What is SNP’s position on this?

Mike Fergus
Norway