I WAS intrigued to read comments in the Sunday National of February 7 from Dr Peter Lynch of Stirling University – my youngest son (The week that shook the SNP). He was speculating on what the late Gordon Wilson would say about the current furore around Joanna Cherry MP.

To put the matter into context, Labour had a referendum on Scottish independence in 1979. The Yes side had a majority, but a clause had been inserted by George Cunningham, a Scot but representing Islington, that there had to be a 40% Yes vote – a qualification never seen in any referendum before or after or elsewhere in the world. This meant that dead people still on the voters’ roll counted as No voters. It was rumoured that this was planned by Robin Cook, a member of Callahan’s government.

READ MORE: Long Read: The inside story of the week that rocked the SNP

The majority voted Yes, but Callahan persisted in sticking to the terms; there was a vote of no confidence which he lost. In the subsequent General Election, Labour lost and Margaret Thatcher stepped in. The SNP entered that election with 11 seats, and came out with two. The SNP fought all 73 seats and only saved 19 deposits; 11 of these had been MPs – I was in the other eight!

After this the 79 Group was formed in the SNP to take the party to the far left; this was a nasty time and I hated it.

It grew and at the SNP conference in Ayr in 1982 there was a fringe meeting for the Campaign for Independence – speakers included Dr Robert MacIntyre, the president Winnie Ewing, former SNP chairman Jimmy Halliday, and other fundamentalists.

The SNP chairman Gordon Wilson MP launched a resolution to ban all groups within the party. This was supported by a vast majority, and led to a walkout by the 79 Group members.

After this vote one journalist, Chris Baur of The Scotsman, said to me “That’s the last kick of the dying horse”; I do not know where Chris is now, as I stopped buying The Scotsman after I retired in 1996 – not due to economy but irritation.

All the expelled members appealed their expulsion unsuccessfully – Alex Salmond brought his lawyer to the committee.

A General Election was looming in 1983, and Professor Neil MacCormick put a resolution to National Council to let the expelled members back before this; his resolution was passed – so we could have unity.

In 1983 the Unionists formed the Social Democratic Party, and in Dundee West they pushed me into fourth place by eight votes. Their campaign consisted of a loudspeaker car going about playing Chariots of Fire!

In that election I won £500 with the best election address in Scotland; this was produced by myself and Percy Holton, a retired commercial artist in Corstorphine SNP Branch. Ah well, it helped to defray our election expenses.

The award was from the Sunday Standard, and on the night I went through they had decided to close the paper, and their offices were in disarray, with bottles of gin, whisky and brandy all over the place. Not a happy event – I picked up the cheque and caught the train back to Edinburgh.

My sympathies are with Nicola Sturgeon; she is doing wonderfully well and under a great deal of pressure. We are only weeks away from the Holyrood election, and egotists should think of Scotland – not of their own careers. Scotland will not forgive any deviations.

Jim Lynch
Edinburgh

DESPITE all the shenanigans within the SNP, I do not think this will detrimentally affect the election results. It has been and is an obvious distraction, a godsend to our opponents, but I do think it will have little impact on the May outcome. Our cause is just. Our message sound. The battle cry of “self-determination” will overcome all.

Robin MacLean
Fort Augustus