IT was heartening, indeed humbling, to read the piece by Craig Meighan (Call for zero tolerance on abuse during campaign, April 26) and I hope everyone takes notice and respects the wishes of the family of the late Charles Kennedy, in light of the tragic circumstances surrounding the “abhorrent personal abuse” he suffered at the time of the 2015 General Election campaign.

I take my hat off to the Scottish LibDems for their proposal of a “Kennedy Commitment” and very much hope it is adopted now and hereafter, by those who are in a position to influence the general perception of candidates and high-profile figures. All parties, as suggested, should agree to “challenge and denounce” abuse of candidates and treat all opponents, journalists and the public with respect – and may I say, vice versa. There can be no doubt that in most instances, one insulting remark – particularly if unsubstantiated – evinces retaliation and on social media these spats cause ever-widening ripples of vehemence and subsequent distress to the accused and their families. Don’t let us forget the families.

READ MORE: Call for zero-tolerance on abuse during campaign in Charles Kennedy's name

Sure, disagreement on policy judgements is expected in election campaigning, but unrelenting victimisation of one person should certainly be out of bounds. “Unfit for public office” springs to mind, as does the retort, “What does someone have to do in this country to clear one’s name?”

Is this the kind of hounding by those in authority one can expect in an independent Scotland, all to fight off political challenge and protect the status quo? I hope not. According to the latest Panelbase poll, the Alba Party are now showing at 6% – an additional eight pro-independence MSPs in Holyrood, which would bring the total to 80 of the 86 needed for a supermajority. Power to the independence elbow. All the carping from the sidelines and media blackouts of Alba just ain’t working. Do we want independence or not? If so, we must unite. Partisan politics won’t win the day.

One regular journalist writing for Sunday National has used the phrase “populist leader” two weeks in a row as a political insult, with no explanation of what he interprets that to mean in relation to the person to whom he directs the remark. There are, throughout the world, populist parties on both ends of the political spectrum and between, and a variety of meanings exist which can be attributed to the term “populist”. I have scrolled through some of these meanings, but still fail to come up with what exactly the political leader in question is being accused of, because none of the defining traits of populism fit either the persona or the political objectives quite clearly stated in the Alba Party manifesto, which offers the “clear vision of what we’re trying to achieve”, if those seeking change would trouble to read it.

It’s brimful of exciting and deliverable plans for Scotland’s future recovery and prosperity and has nothing to do with personalities – just what’s best for Scotland from someone who knows the score. As one political scientist put it, “populism is extraordinarily powerful because it can adapt to all situations”. Perhaps the academic in question will tell us which brand of populism he is railing against, because from here it looks like just another very thinly veiled personal attack to close down the candidate and the party’s electoral fortunes. Please Scotland, don’t let us cut off our nose to spite our face.

On Monday, we had another assault in similar vein, alongside a large picture of the politician, complaining that no complex analyses of the current set of circumstances has been undertaken, the writer having apparently no knowledge of the 57-page Alba Party manifesto proposing fresh, comprehensive and entirely feasible recovery plans, perhaps the most urgent of all for the return of Scotland to the normality of an independent state being a written constitution for Scotland, with the first article clearly affirming the sovereignty of the people – vital to withstand Westminster assaults on our nationhood.

Oh dear, there comes that charge of “populist” again. For those who are interested in reading how Scotland could prosper and “ring our own till”, read the Alba Party manifesto – you won’t be disappointed.

Ann Williamson
via email

LIKE two old vultures circling over the dead carcass of the UK, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown still treat Scotland with contempt by their comments, such as Blair’s latest claim that devolution acts as a bulwark to independence (Scots won’t want indyref2 even if they vote for SNP majority, Tony Blair claims, thenational.scot, April 27).

The difference is that Scotland is growing up and realises that Teflon Tony’s views on what’s good for our nation mirror the beginning of the end of the Union.

Even now, Blair, Brown and Sarwar can’t admit that perhaps there is a better way ahead through independence and that Scotland should have a choice. They would rather see Scotland shackled to Johnson’s government and the sleaze that accompanies it.

Why do we listen to these part-time Scots?

Keith Taylor
via email