I READ with great interest Gerry Hassan’s critical analysis of the “State of the Union” (Seven Days, March 1). His dissection of the Our Past, Present and Future pro-Union Newcastle gathering was not only a narrative but an interesting insight into the state of the so-called Union at this time.

Of interest to me was that the clear objective of this gathering was for “experts” and others to reflect and contribute to the case for the Union, with a rather altruistic aim of providing proof that more unites us than divides us.

This “Better Together” approach was led by a variety of past and present so-called political heavyweights and a number of academics and journalists. Out trots Gordon Brown with nothing new to add to his British nationalist views, and Douglas Alexander, still anti-SNP, stuck in the past and blind to the changes in Scotland since he spectacularly lost his seat and his party was reduced to a rump in Holyrood. Contributions by Willie Rennie and Struan Stevenson – predictably not getting it and simply ranting on about no indy2 and SNP bad and blindingly little on the present state of the Union.

READ MORE: Gerry Hassan: What happened at a pro-Union These Islands event

Much was expected from the academics. Any surprises here? Well actually no. Theoretical ramblings about Scottish nationalism, about the legacy of empire, the UK fighting nation. Irish nationalism infecting Scotland and many other quips and misplaced “facts” about Scotland and the drive to independence.

Glaringly absent was any genuine attempt to look critically at the state of the Union in 2020, particularly after the debacle of Brexit. This one episode has vividly highlighted the precarious position of the “precious Union “ and most certainly Scotland’s position.

Little focus on why Scotland is treading a different path socially, politically and economically. In fact little interest, other than confusing the interests of the UK with those of England masquerading as the UK. Positive UK attributes were limited to exemplars dragged out from post-World War Two and the 1970s and there was little reflection of the here and now.

Gerry Hassan’s six-point summary at the end in my view succinctly summed up the usefulness or otherwise of this Union gathering. I have to say more crudely it really indicates that the pro-Unionists at this point in time are all over the place. They are a disjointed, disparate group with little understanding of the real issues facing Scotland and have only one mantra left and that is “Project Fear 2”. Their problem is that “Better Together 2” is unlikely to rear up in the same way as 2014. The level of fear likely to be generated will not be at the same levels as in 2014.

This is no reason to be complacent, as the usual “SNP bad/incompetent” mantra will be shouted from the rooftops by the opposition parties throughout 2020. If this meeting of pro-Unionists is anything to go by, then it is clear that defending the Union is going to be a hard task for those against Scottish independence. The parties which support the Union will find trying to achieve a Unionist platform with a clear “precious Union” approach incredibly difficult.

The independence battle, second time round, will be direct attacks on the SN and their record in government, and clearly the mantra will still remain “too wee, too poor and too stupid”. The only positive for me of this gathering was a realisation that many Union-supporting individuals see the existence of the UK as a given, which does not require to justify itself even in the face of the biggest threat to its existence.

The simple question at this conference – “ What the UK is good for?” – was met with silence! I rest my case.

Dan Wood
Kirriemuir