I DIDN’T watch the debate but was surprised to read that Willie Rennie was referring to the poisonous debate, brutal argument, open wounds etc (Willie Rennie was the most forceful voice for the Union at the leaders’ debate, thenational.scot, April 14). Why is Willie badmouthing Scotland in public and creating such a nasty image of our country? To talk in public about open wounds is unmitigated guff.

My memories of the 2014 referendum are all positive ones. I remember many debates and some of them quite vigorous, but never poisonous or brutal. Quite a few of the people amongst my friends, work colleagues and family who voted No in 2014 are now very much for independence, but either way none of their political choices has had any effect on our friendship or personal feelings towards each other.

READ MORE: Shona Craven: Willie Rennie was the most forceful voice for the Union

There are some people that I know who rarely discuss politics and I would struggle to remember how they voted in 2014. Of course there are always the few people who get things out of proportion and spout rubbish about any political situation, but Willie is distorting reality with his wild extreme claims.

I’m tired of Unionists talking down Scotland. It’s bad enough that we are constantly denigrated and sneered at by the extremists in Johnson’s government without any politicians in Scotland doing likewise here in our own country.

Unionist politicians in Scotland really need to start acting responsibly and stop putting their own careers above the interests of the people of Scotland and stop misrepresenting us in such a negative way.

P McDonald
via thenational.scot

THE STV Leaders’ Debate format was far better than the BBC’s, and the difference between the party leaders and the party branch leaders – which had surfaced during the BBC programme – became even more obvious when the participants had the opportunity to question each other in detail.

When questioned on party policies Douglas Ross struggled, and failed to explain his script on policies from party headquarters, and Anas Sarwar struggled as he obviously had not even been sent a script on policies from his party headquarters, while Willie Rennie continues to live in Willie’s World and is best just left there.

READ MORE: Douglas Ross's five most awkward moments at the STV Leaders' Debate

Nicola Sturgeon and Patrick Harvey showed the confidence and understanding of party policies that can only come from those who have been involved in formulating these policies.

These debates have revealed that the Holyrood branches are not involved in making policy decisions by their London-based parties and will have nothing to offer Scotland during the recovery of the economy from the effects of the pandemic.

John Jamieson
South Queensferry

POOR DRoss can’t do two things at once – he says you can’t do recovery and independence.

Does he really believe that any government does just one thing at a time? Such nonsense. It is too obvious he will never speak up for Scotland but only be Westminster’s’ man in Scotland – just look at promises made to fishermen, to exporters and to Northern Ireland.

READ MORE: 'You just can't Colin': Douglas Ross mocked for indyref2 comment at leaders debate

But he must be better than any government because he thinks he can be an MP, MSP, branch leader of a party and a linesman, but of course all of these total up to yes-man for Boris and “say no to indy” because that is all he needs to to do and say.

Winifred McCartney
Paisley

I CAN understand the Scottish Tories’ Union flag-waving mentality that refuses the very idea of a referendum. But Labour and Sarwar not accepting the democratic principle of a referendum mystifies me. If they were honest and more honourable they would accept the right of the referendum but then could campaign to remain in the Union if that’s what they wished. Not doing so indicates how worried and anxious they really are. A shadow of the great party they once were. It’s so sad!

Robin Maclean
Fort Augustus

I WAS really impressed with Patrick Harvey on Tuesday night. His performance – along with Nicola’s – eclipsed anything the other leaders put into the debate.

Iain Macdonald
via thenational.scot

IT is reported that Neale Hanvey MP, list candidate for Alba, has criticised the National Trust for Scotland for saying that it was not asked permission to film by drone at Bannockburn for an Alba campaign video. The NTS is also reported as commenting that it would have refused consent as it does not allow political groups to make use of its properties.

I think Neale Hanvey missed the point and the target. I would think permission should have been sought for filming at Bannockburn for any number of reasons including common courtesy, and particularly where a drone was involved. He should have agreed that it is right for the NTS not to take sides politically, and it is right for the NTS to instruct staff and volunteers not to show political bias at work.

He should, however, have pointed out that what contradicted the policy of political neutrality was the NTS allowing Neil Oliver to continue to make partial and inflammatory statements when he was their president.

Melvyn Gibson
Fenwick

I CONCUR with the views of Peter Macari in Aberdeen (Letters, April 14) regarding the use of (almost) obsolete words. Adding to his list, I submit the word “concupiscent” used by Kevin McKenna on Wednesday. “WTF does THAT mean?” I thought, before Googling it, to find it’s just ... lustful, randy, sexy, or probably several more words in common parlance that would have served.

The same user of this obscure (and I’m sure unloved) word, seems to have overlooked the basic rule – don’t start a sentence with a “joining” word like AND or SO.

Barry Stewart
Blantyre