DAVID Pratt sums up exactly what many independence supporters feel about SNP inaction in pursuing independence (Silence on indy from Scottish Government is deafening, June 17).
Mr Pratt correctly observes the Boris Johnson government is “turning the political screw on Scotland at every opportunity” whilst dealing with the pandemic and a multitude of other things. In other words, he is multitasking. This of course requires effective delegation, control and trust in the capabilities of your subordinates whilst acknowledging things can go wrong. Government in all its forms is a multi-task environment but the constant refrain from Nicola Sturgeon that the pandemic must be dealt with first, suggests she sees it otherwise – or it is an excuse to do nothing on independence without saying why.
READ MORE: David Pratt: Post-election silence on independence from SNP is deafening
An independence campaign should start right now before it is too late, in order to repel the strategic ground being gained by the Unionists on a daily basis. Everywhere there are anti-independence comments in the press and media, rebuffed by complete silence from the SNP.
The independence campaign should have re-started not long after 2014, but here we are in 2021 with most of the questions arising from then remaining unanswered. Various supporter groups lack focus and direction, resulting in the formation of other independence-supporting parties to fill the vacuum.
Unfortunately, conflation between an independence campaign and a referendum continues. If the plan is to announce a referendum at some point and then try to squeeze a myriad of questions into a short period, it could lead to failure. Far better to start a campaign right now so that voters know what independence actually means and how the transition will work before the announcement of a referendum.
We are told Scotland cannot be the country it wants to be “without the full levers of power”. It therefore stands to reason that a devolved government can never deliver. Why then try to bring in radical changes under the devolution settlement, many of which are controversial, instead of concentrating on the goal of independence whilst maintaining competent government?
Alan Morris
Glasgow
I WAS interested in David Pratt’s column. I was only surprised that, for him, it has taken so long for the penny to drop. I recall Alex Salmond saying that it would be so easy to be sucked into the comfort zone in Westminster. Well, this was well illustrated by Peter Wishart, who on being elected last time stated he was now “faither of the hoose”.
I understand the SNP were fighting in London to oppose Brexit. Why? If the lemmings in England wanted to shed the EU, so be it. The SNP should have been concentrating their energies on achieving independence as the possible way of retaining European membership.
A year or two ago I wrote to my MSP explaining I was no longer a member of his party after giving it support for the last 50 years. I am still waiting for an acknowledgement.
N M Shaw
Edinburgh
DAVID Pratt fills a National page with his reasoned and reasonable concerns about the lack of any discernible progress towards independence being generated by the SNP/Scottish Government, while the Unionists make their hay. Rather more pithy is the quote attributed to one George Jackson: “Patience has its limits. Take it too far, and it’s cowardice”. Scotland the Brave...?
Ian Duff
Inverness
WE are approaching the fifth anniversary of the referendum to leave the EU. Time to look at the success or failure of the Brexit project and what was said during the campaign.
David Davis said: “There will be no downside to Brexit; only a considerable upside”. Kate Hoey said: “Brexit won’t hurt Northern Ireland at all”. Andrea Leadsom said: “The sunlit uplands are on the horizon”. Michael Gove said: “We hold all the cards and we can chose the path we want”. Daniel Hannan said: “Nobody is talking about threatening our place in the single market”. Dominic Raab said: “We’ll get a great result out of Brexit. We’ll also unite the country”. And finally, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “The cost of getting out would be virtually nil”. I could go on!
READ MORE: EU/UK talks drag on but the options for Northern Ireland have not changed
The reality is different. Inflation rose by more than 2% in a month. Exports to the EU fell by over 40% in January and imports by 28%. Exports of fish and shellfish fell by more than 83%. 10,000-22,000 EU nationals have left the NHS since the referendum, depriving a service already short of staff. The settlement that was negotiated at the time of leaving, the Northern Ireland protocol, has created a border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a situation which is deeply resented by the Northern Irish people but was entirely predictable.
Of course, the people of Scotland rejected this propaganda and rejected the call to leave the EU. The best thing that could happen is the speedy re-entering of the European single market, probably via EFTA, as a first step to negotiating re-entry into the EU, but this will only be possible with independence.
Pete Rowberry
Duns
IN the 2019 General Election Boris Johnson made a dodgy long-shot bet, promising the electorate he would get old “Brexit Night Mare” across the line and win the sweepstake. Miraculously he won by several heads.
The old chestnut galloped across the line, overstimulated by dodgy media and selective demonising of the opposition. The beast then died and is putrefying in the winners’ enclosure.
In “the old days”, horse flesh could be sold to the French. President Macron has clearly stated he ain’t buying the carcass. It’s time for a stewards enquiry.
Nick Aitken
Seattle, Washington, USA
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