THERE is so much talk about the behaviour of Yes supporters at the Tory hustings in Perth. I have to defend the overwhelming majority of SNP and Yes supporters who were well behaved and protested with vigour but never resorted to gutter politics.
We stood for two hours plus and made our protest. Feelings are strong and running high and rightly so, about independence and the disastrous cost-of-living crisis. There were more militant individuals present from other groups whose behaviour could not be managed. By whom, anyway? Many of the Tory delegates baited the crowd, shouting abuse, waving and gesturing and taking photographs which was highly provocative. Nothing reported on that!
READ MORE: Calls for Scottish independence code of conduct after Perth hustings protests
Please, everyone, do not make a mountain out of a molehill. I was there. Overall it was a good-humoured gathering. Remember this was a protest meeting. I am rather fed up of those who were not actually there pontificating about the Yes movements behaviour and demanding codes etc. This all based on the biased reporting of the Tory press.
Much of the adverse comments are coming from SNP elected politicians taking the moral higher ground who were very conspicuous by their absence.
Dan Wood
Kirriemuir
IT is incredible that those who go to independence protests with banners that are insulting to a proportion of the Scottish electorate do not recognise how inappropriate it is.
If we end up with a plebiscite election we need all of the votes we can harvest, including those of centre-right voters with a belief in Scotland as a nation. Giving them the impression they’re candidates for some future gulag in the People’s Republic of Scotland is not helping.
READ MORE: Alan Cumming in brutal attack on 'right-wing mad people' Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak
It’s only necessary to read the letters columns of some of the other Scottish newspapers to see what a gift to the Unionist side this sort of mindless exhibitionism is.
Please stop it! We’ve enough hurdles to clear.
Cameron Crawford
Rothesay
I ATTENDED the demonstration at Perth on Tuesday. I generally agree about the tone of the demonstration and we must seek to deliver a more positive message about independence for Scotland. We must try to appeal to a broad section of the population and keep our message loud, positive and respectful.
When it comes to future independence marches the issue should be independence first and last, and the banners should reflect this. Insulting Tories is a waste of energy. We need positive and factual banners as to why independence is right and is our right.
Robert Harvie
Bishopbriggs
I AGREE with David Roche (Letters, Aug 18) that SNP supporters should take the high ground by demonstrating in a reasonably civilised manner and expressing criticism without resorting to abuse, or throwing hen fruit at the candidates – although that might be interpreted as offering encouragement (egging them on).
James Stevenson
Auchterarder
THE letter by FM on Thursday has cleared up a little mystery for me. I have been receiving the increase he mentions (25p) for almost 12 years and always put it down to the DWP “team” (as they now call themselves) having a bit of a joke one day and deciding to pay a little extra, and forgetting to take it off the computer (as you do). Hardly anyone would notice, would they? The same “team” gave my wife a rise in her heating allowance; unfortunately they took the same amount from mine. See these “teams”, these jokers!!! Look out for that one...
James Ahern
via email
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