WITH the likelihood of a second independence referendum receding this year and the focus moving to the Holyrood elections in May 2021, it is perhaps worthwhile to shift the focus from the shenanigans of Westminster and Number 10 and the Brexit disaster, to the Scottish political arena.

Much is going on nearer to home with Tory leadership changes, the Labour party’s never-ending search for an acceptable leader and the

rather quiet LibDems. The battleground facing all parties in Scotland will be to increase their representation in Holyrood and to pursue their policies and manifesto promises.

The opposition hope to achieve sufficient numbers to defeat the SNP and Greens and ensure no majority in Holyrood for Scottish independence. The SNP and Greens of course hope the opposite happens and, as the polls suggest, a majority of 65-plus seats is within their reach. It is suggested the SNP can achieve 67 seats on their own this time round.

Is such optimism misplaced? Right now perhaps not: the EU want us, the polls show 52% support and rising, there is support from Unite for a referendum, the Yes movement is strong and the argument for independence more than ever before is understood throughout Europe and perhaps globally. This is the Brexit bonus for the Scottish Government.

The Holyrood election is of course over a year away, and much can change in the interim. Can the Tories, Labour and the LibDems turn their fortunes around after disastrous election after election? Will a Holyrood election be any different from the General Election or the EU election and for that matter the Holyrood elections of 2011 and 2016 when the SNP swept all before them?

Let’s take the Tories first. Can new leader Jackson Carlaw the turn their fortunes around? Andrew Tickell in his excellent and incisive article exposed the traits and weaknesses of this Tory leader (Davidson had something her replacement Carlaw lacks – relatability, February 16). He is the quintessential Tory with all the presence of condescension and conforming to the Tory mould, and of course zealous deference to his masters in London. As Tickell suggests, he is no Ruth Davidson, who had appeal to those outside the Tory party. No worries to the SNP on this count.

What about Labour? A lame duck Scottish leader unlikely to be around as soon as the national leader is appointed, and what about the Labour candidates? The last three know little about Scotland and even less about the Scottish psyche. To date we only hear criticism about Scottish independence about the assumption that they will bring the Scottish faithful back into the fold. Not what the resurrected Labour for Independence would suggest is happening.

Finally the LibDems, bereft of policies with their leader Willie Rennie trotting out the tired mantra of “no to independence” again and again. Leaderless and a spent force nationally, I cannot see this party attracting anything other than tactical voters.

All the above would suggest the SNP are going to walk it. Nothing of the sort – it is going to be a war of attrition! The SNP will have every negative thrown at them in relation to 13 years of supposed total failure in education, the economy, police, transport and the usual dereliction of the day job for an obsession with independence. Examples of SNP disasters will proliferate from the new Better Together partnership. “No to independence” will still

be their battle cry and it would not surprise me if this trio of branch offices entered in partnership to achieve an overall anti-independence majority at Holyrood.

Now is the time to prepare and plan at every level of the independence movement, and be ready to meet the opposition parties’ agenda head on at every opportunity.

Dan Wood

Kirriemuir