THE Tories’ continual opposition to a Scottish independence referendum is never credited with any actual evidence as to why “now is not the time”. This infamous quote, used originally by Theresa May, is as irrelevant as the “once in a lifetime” quote from Alex Salmond.

Now I read that the unoriginal Alister “Union” Jack has borrowed May’s quote for himself, saying his government is prepared to take the Scottish Government to court if it holds its proposed referendum and is successful.

His argument (possibly with himself) is that the so-called division created would be harmful for business, but he fails to be any the more explicit. This factor has been spouted often enough by Johnson’s crew but never explained. The Scottish Government has always stated that independence would be good for Scottish business and much information has been produced by the Yes groups to verify this.

READ MORE: Alister Jack: Boris Johnson will use courts to fight Scottish independence vote

Jack has also stated that Nicola Sturgeon does not speak for Scotland. He’s having a laugh, surely? Who is it who has provided Covid-19 information every working day for the Scottish nation? Who is it that has had to mitigate Westminster austerity measures to help the needy? Who is it that has governed Scotland better than Westminster and for three terms? Not bloody Westminster, that’s for sure.

And so far as the “constitution” is concerned, which Jack refers to as a reserved matter, let him provide written evidence of where it says that Scotland cannot hold a referendum. Westminster never has had a written constitution. The whole world must know this, let alone the people of Scotland. Which is why it is important for Scotland to write its own constitution, thus avoiding the mess that Westminster has been in these few years.

Westminster has recently passed its own rules and laws that will just about undermine Holyrood’s ability to govern the way it has these past few decades. Now has to be the time to hold our independence referendum. We must secure a majority SNP government in a few weeks’ time. Yes, we can extend a sufficient SNP majority with other elected independence-supporting members, and hopefully to the detriment of the Tories and a few Labour members.

So let’s get out there and vote for our country and our children’s country and their children’s country. This is not just about the here and now but about tomorrow as well. Vote SNP!

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

LIFE as a supporter of Scottish independence is like a visit to a theme park sponsored by the Tories. It’s a rollercoaster of frustration, hope, belief, despair, disbelief and back to hope.

The lies, deceit and deception have been so obvious that surely even the most committed undecideds can see it. Personal attacks and vendettas against the FM and SNP politicians past and present have been massively ramped up by Unionists and their media and will only get worse.

The coming May election is sink or swim time for this country. We go forward to a new future as a nation or have our identity crushed by the bulldozer of British nationalism. We become imprisoned in an isolated tax haven for the rich with zero credibility, or we stand as proud internationalists in the world.

I believe that many Scots do not realise how high the stakes are. The Yes movement and the SNP in particular must together deliver a clear and concise message on independence and they must get voters out. The SNP election material must refute lies, outline the seriousness of the current situation and be positive, dynamic and inspirational about Scotland. Nothing less will do.

Helping people to understand the voting system is important but many attempts to do so have been, frankly, laborious. Why not just have a look at how the majority was won in 2007 and follow the same pattern?

We must win this election and do so convincingly. If not, to quote Paul Kavanagh: “the brakes will be off ... they will neuter the Scottish Parliament and close any loopholes which allow Scotland to decide its own future without the express consent of ... 10 Downing Street” (This is what will happen if we fail to win May election, March 9).

The parliament has huge popular and political support. Only the Tories opposed it and at present barely tolerate it. If we appeal to that sense of attachment, how could we not energise our people? I’m currently stuck on the rollercoaster between frustration and despair, please send help.

Noirin Blackie
Haddington

BEING another revolting pedant, I was pleased to see the letter from Michael Gartlan in the Sunday National (March 7). Everything he says is true.

I assumed that the pronunciation of Holyrood had come about in the past by the confusion between English and Scots sounds. When one of the occupants of the Dumbiedykes (before it was rebuilt) said they came from the district of Holyrood, the Morningside ratepayer reacted to the “oa” sound – which was considered a Scots intonation – and changed it to Hollyrood, which in time became accepted. This is made more clear by the knowledge that the people of the then Dumbiedykes seldom went on hoalidays and often went to the doactor.

Looking in the Concise Scots Dictionary for confirmation, I was surprised to find that the fact that “language is always evolving” is true. That dictionary for the place name accepts the Hollyrood pronunciation though not the spelling. Is this an example of covert Anglicisation?

Looking for “holy”, you are directed to haly/halie/holy, so in Scots “Holyrood”, with the broad “o” as in Yetts o Muckart, is to Michael Gartlan’s taste. I would say in Scots “Halieruid”, being also a revolting pedagogue.

Iain WD Forde
Scotlandwell