AS we get nearer to the Scottish Parliament election, once again we are seeing letters from your many contributing scribes on Maxing the Yes, getting more independence-supporting list MSPs, and all the other schemes, but the ONLY way Boris and his government will take any notice is if we can get a MAJORITY SNP government. Any other kind of parliament, even a majority of independence-supporting MSPs will be dismissed by Westminster as not making the case for independence.

The Westminster Secretary of State against Scotland, Alistair (Union) Jack, has already stated that no matter the result, Westminster will deny us our democratic right to self-determination.

READ MORE: SNP set for majority while independence support slips back, poll finds

As your columnist Wee Ginger Dug said in Tuesday’s National, if we don’t get a majority SNP government “the Conservatives will see this as vindication and will embark on an all-out assault on the devolution settlement”. That is what is at risk in this election.

As an SNP member, I am putting my trust in our leadership that if we do get the required result, we will move for a referendum at the earliest time, and our First Minister has said that is the plan.

In past elections minor parties have never reached the 5% of the votes needed to get a list MSP, and there is no reason to suggest they will this time either, although they will take votes from other pro-independence parties.

READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: This is what will happen if Yes fails to win May's election

The Green party has been campaigning for many years now and even now, they have only recently broken the 5% barrier.

Many of your readers and letter writers have intimated that the SNP are “dragging their heels” in not getting a referendum before this, but I would ask all those who feel that to give it one more try, get out and vote, postal or otherwise, and put your two Xs for the SNP.

The alternative if we fail is unthinkable.

We can get independence, but by fighting amongst ourselves we give ammunition to those who delight in denying us our right.

Graham Smith
Arbroath

IT seems the Yoons have seized upon the Salmond/Sturgeon stooshie and are gleefully rubbing their hands at the supposed slight decline in indy support.

Hardly surprising! The costs of Brexit and Covid keep the Westminster overdraft spiralling uncontrollably, so Westminster can’t afford the loss of the cash cow that is Scotland. Any controversy that presents the slightest chance of derailing the Scottish independence campaign will be seized upon, tightly gripped and exaggerated, no matter how inaccurate or implausible it might be!

So, for the waverers and the “don’t knows”, may I offer the following analogy.

Imagine a titanic sea-going vessel, called “United Kingdom”, which is touted as “unsinkable”. The vessel is, because of outmoded steerage capability, difficult to manoeuvre. It has already been pulled off course by a navigational error called Brexit.

Out of the gloom, a lookout spots a hazard. This is identified as “Covid-19” but, because of the sluggish response by the crew and the inefficiency of the steerage, the vessel strikes the hazard.

The damage is catastrophic and the vessel begins to founder. Fighting to maintain floatation are a below-decks crew who risk their lives to save as much as they can. They’re called “the NHS” and everybody claps as they exhaust themselves. In the meantime, the master of the vessel and his senior officers busy themselves selling off the ship’s chandlery, fuel and cargo to greedy souvenir hunters!

There is, however, a functioning lifeboat. It’s equipped with the latest navigational aids, up-to-date charts, a complete survival and first-aid kit as well as a computer “programmed in” to a destination port.

There’s a problem, though. It seems the coxswain may have had her sea-going skills impugned by a senior lifeboat engineer. Although the boat is ready for launch, they’re squabbling when they should be getting the engine started.

So, what’s the best course of action?

Stay on the “United Kingdom”, because of the squabble; and thus go down with it as it sinks into the depths of debt, austerity and obscurity? Or get onboard the lifeboat, strap into your seat, tell them to start the bloody engine and sail off to the land called “Independent Nation”?

To me, it’s a no-brainer!

Ned Larkin
Inverness

IT seems the government is sticking to its view that it cannot afford more than a 1% pay rise for our nurses. Nurses’ pay has fallen in real terms by 7% in the last ten years. There is a serious shortage of staff and in 2019 there were 44,000 vacancies. It is estimated that this has risen to 70,000. MPs awarded themselves a 2.7% pay rise in 2019 and 3.1% in 2020. There was no question of that being “unaffordable”. We have spent £22-£34bn on a “Test and Trace” scheme that has not delivered any reduction in infection rates.

As soon as restrictions are over I will be out on the streets campaigning for fair treatment for those who put themselves at risk and helped treat the pandemic without any complaint.

Pete Rowberry
Duns

REGARDING the misnaming of the SNP by Boris and co as the Scottish NationalIST Party. While rummaging on the net, I came across the following quote: “The people who believe MOST that our greatness and welfare are proved by our being very rich, and who MOST give their lives and thoughts to becoming rich, are just the very people whom we call Philistines” (Matthew Arnold, 1869).

Perhaps our SNP MPs should indulge in a bit of misnaming of the Tories as a response. The Philistine Party somehow seems most appropriate in light of Mr Arnold’s definition.

Barry Stewart
Blantyre