DOUGLAS Ross announced that Scotland has been “gripped by the dead hand of nationalism”.

Well, I would reject that and say it has been gripped by the dead heads of Unionism.

All three Unionist parties that declare their love of Scotland, while undermining the devolution settlement, are registered in London. We are so important that we have the branch office.

According to them, there is nothing good in Scotland: our NHS is awful, education is awful and poverty is beyond belief – Scotland under the SNP is absolutely awful.

So why have the SNP been in power since 2007, still winning now? Maybe it’s because the three Unionist parties are out of ideas, are awful, and the people of Scotland know that if they get into office at Holyrood, they are then beholden to their London masters, and do their bidding dutifully.

The Tories have not won an election in Scotland since 1955, and if the present polls are correct they will fall into third place behind Scottish Labour. No wonder their Westminster masters want to dilute the devolution settlement, they know Hell will freeze over before Douglas Ross or any of his cronies becomes first minister.

Scottish Labour was last in power in Scotland under the underwhelming Jack McConnell, or now Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale. Rather than fight elections, their forte has been fighting leadership contests among themselves. They have had more leaders than any other party.

The present incumbent and holder of the Poisoned Chalice, Anas Sarwar, does not seem to know much other than Faux Outrage. He does not seem to know about the mess Scottish Labour got into with the tendering process for a fishery protection vessel.

It would also appear that, like many Scottish Tories, he does not know which matters are reserved.

Sorry, I’ve forgotten to mention the LibDems. They need to know as well, even though there is only three of them.

So to save oxygen at Holyrood, may I suggest that The National takes the lead and publishes the list of reserved matters for all to see?

This letter is longer than Rishi Sunak’s speech, which in my view showed contempt and disregard for the Tories’ followers in Scotland.
Robert McCaw
Renfrew

IT is an absolute disgrace for the SNP to suspend Dr Tim Rideout for his attack on the English Home Office hypocrite, Priti Patel.

He was pointing out the history of Patel’s family as refugees, being kicked out of Zimbabwe.

One would assume, given the past experiences of Patel’s family, she would have positive compassion for all refugees, in addition to being in the position of having the power to action humanitarian assistance at a stroke.

Yes! Any moral, thinking person would assume such a thing from such a person. To no avail. This is Patel and the English state, who have obfuscated at every turn to prevent refugees fleeing from war-torn countries and illegal wars which the British and Yanks brought down upon millions of innocent men, women and children, which continues to this very day.

Responsibilities are obfuscated by suggesting these same refugees should be sent 7000 miles to St Helena or, indeed, anywhere else, except these Islands. That is the crux of Dr Tim Rideout’s attack. There is nothing racist about it. This is a point of fact.

As for the real facts behind Dr Tim Rideout’s suspension?

He is a threat to the SNP, by pointing out in his many papers, blogs and zoom meetings the positive cases for all facets of Scotland’s economic abilities – be it Scotland’s currency, pensions, finances, etc, for independence.

Not forgetting a constitution.

For the SNP to do this, to the redoubtable Tim Rideout, in lockstep with their branch-office chums, gives out a bad smell once again.

Hell mend them.
Kenneth Coutts
Via email