WHEN is a mandate not a mandate? When it’s won by the SNP.

I have never been a member of a political party and have never sent a letter to a newspaper, but events following the General Election compel me to do so.

We are told that 43% of the vote in the UK for the Tories is a mandate, but 45% for the SNP in Scotland isn’t – how is this so? We are then told that as overall share for SNP was less than 50% in Scotland, this shows there is no mandate. Hmm. Does this mean the Tories have no mandate in the UK? Of course not, even though more than 50% voted for pro-Brexit referendum parties.

The fact is that while first-past-the-post is a useless system, it’s the one that we have at Westminster and is how power is gained. When was the last time a Tory government received more than 50% of the vote?

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The Tories’ refusal to agree to an independence referendum is dangerous for the country and must be resisted. What is at stake is fundamental, as it is democracy itself which is being shredded. A lot of people are getting confused over this as they base their agreement or otherwise for a referendum on whether they agree with independence. This has to be challenged. It’s about whether Scotland has the right to self-determination, if indeed it is a country at all, or simply a region. It’s also about the legitimacy of the British state.

How can you have a Union without the consent of the people? How can you have a democracy when your vote doesn’t count, or carries less weight than a vote cast elsewhere?

My message to Labour and LibDem supporters is that if you disagree with independence then campaign against it, vote against it but for heaven’s sake don’t stand with the Tories in denying Scotland its democratic right to ask the question. To the leadership of Scottish Labour, you must stand up and defend Scotland’s democracy against this attack.

The election result delivered more than simply permission for the Scottish Government to hold a referendum, it was an instruction to do so, and no Prime Minister should stand in the way of democracy. Every democrat in Scotland should defend this right. The Tories must also be made to understand that every time they say no, more and more Scots will say Yes.

Finally, a message to EU citizens living in Scotland. Boris Johnson complains about EU citizens coming to the UK and treating it as if it’s their own country. I want to join the chorus of Scottish voices saying that if you choose to live, work, study etc here then this is your own country. You will of course have loyalty to your homeland which should be cherished and retained, but when you come to live here you become a Polish Scot, a Greek Scot etc and we welcome you. Please stay and help us achieve the free, open, prosperous independent nation we want to be, a place where democracy truly lies with the people, and not the likes of Johnson, Gove and Carlaw.

A Easton
Cumbernauld

CAN we please have a New Year Resolution to stop talking about indyref2 for the whole of January and then to mention it only sparingly? Instead, for a change, let’s talk about independence. We have had two General Elections which have been about referendums without any focus on the substance of independence. I know this seems an easier campaign approach for many in the political spotlight, but it does nothing to stimulate and educate on the key independence policy issues.

Support for independence has remained basically fairly static since 2014. This means that if we got a referendum, we would have a short time to develop the substantive case and to promote it. Just about everyone knows that the Growth Commission model has to be buried and the sooner the better. It will drag the movement down and it is only lingering on for face-saving reasons.

Our challenge to Labour in Scotland should not just be to support another referendum but to discuss how they would like to use the new powers that would come to Scotland if the people said Yes. We need this focus on substance not process. It is more difficult but it is ultimately more rewarding and effective.

Isobel Lindsay
Biggar

RICHARD Leonard is now I see considering backing indyref2. Does this man really think that if he does it would change people’s opinion of him and his party who have fought against Scotland’s people’s wishes for years? This is nothing but a ploy to keep his job. How could he possibly back independence when his party (Scottish in name only) would still have to obey their Westminster masters?? We don’t need or want branch offices of Westminster in Scotland any more, so Dickie needs to realise this and cut the umbilical cord with Westminster.

Anne Smart
Milton of Campsie

I STRONGLY agree with George Kerevan that we need to take the case for indyref2 to the government with civil disobedience (Tories will never give us Section 30 order, so we must be prepared to act, December 16).

However, civil disobedience in Scotland would probably have little effect. In the USA the civil rights and anti-war protests in Washington DC brought the protest to the attention of the government and media.

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It would be a huge undertaking to take the protest to Downing Street and Parliament, but it could be done. It would require money and organisation. I suggest that coaches comfortable enough to allow reasonable sleep would be needed. It would be almost impossible for people with major family or work commitments. However, it would be possible for retired people like myself and for students during vacation or bank holidays. I suggest that relatively small-scale protests (including blocking road junctions) might be followed by large-scale demonstrations in London.

I hope that these thoughts get some support.

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