THE “English” UK Supreme Court has ruled Scotland cannot hold a referendum and – whether as a proud, independence-seeking Scotsman, I like that or not – for the moment, it is a legal fact!

However, Xander Elliards’ article “The full message the FM has sent out to party members” (Jan 31) makes the point that the Claim of Right, “the right of every nation to self-determination, is universally recognised”.

Now, I’m no lawyer but I can determine the meaning of words in a dictionary and “self-determination” is defined (in its short form) as people having “the right to freely choose their sovereignty and international political status with no interference” (this I believe to be an extract from the United Nations Charter).

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As the Supreme Court has ruled on a referendum, my understanding is that it cannot rule on the “Claim of Right” as it is not within the scope of its power to prohibit each Scottish citizen being asked the following question:

“As a citizen of Scotland, do you wish to exercise your right to self-determination under the United Nations Charter, free from the political control of another state?”

This is my wording but I am confident there are others in the independence movement who could refine (or not) my question.

As the “Claim of Right” is universally accepted, every member nation of the UN has the obligation to accept the outcome.

The next General Election must include this question in every ballot paper, even if that involves all parties relinquishing their own party title, ie no SNP, Alba Party, Green Party, no names, simply a political party named “The Claim of Right to self-determination”.

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The Electoral Commission cannot refuse, it is outwith its scope of power/authority. Westminster cannot refuse, it also doesn’t have the power or authority.

The problem is, do all the independence-seeking parties have the will and desire to pull together, rather than remain divided in a common cause?

Will those pro-independence politicians with their inflated egos and self-serving personalities prevail over independence? Will they sacrifice independence for their own personal “30 pieces of silver”, or be modern versions of a “parcel of rogues in a nation”?

Only time will tell, but I still want to make my own statement under the Claim of Right to self-determination that will be legally binding on Westminster and set Scotland free! Give me (and others) that opportunity before we leave this world, please!

Jim Todd
Cumbernauld

FOR a long time now, I have wondered whether Angus Robertson was still in post, since we have heard so little from him recently. Now I wish he had stayed missing in action.

At a stroke, he has lost us a huge number of potential votes for independence (Vote for indy would count as vote to rejoin EU, Robertson says, Jan 30). I myself have spent more than a year converting an acquaintance to independence, and the final step was reassuring him that independence would give us not an automatic application to join the EU, but the right to vote on it. If the two are inextricably linked in the independence vote, he will now vote No.

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There will be many more like him, yet Angus must know that we need to garner votes from all over the spectrum of opinions on all kinds of topics. In spite of frequent polling showing a majority in favour of rejoining the EU, they are merely a snapshot, and the entire voting population must be given the chance to register their views.

That does not mean leaving EU membership out of our campaigning armoury. We need not only to discuss the benefits of EU membership but to make it clear that an independence vote is an essential first step to being free to decide on that step. Our campaigning can still try to persuade doubters of the benefits that we can then decide on. We cannot win independence by excluding those who do not like either the EU or the SNP, or both.

Thank you, Angus Robertson. By tying EU membership automatically into an independence vote, you have just lost us countless votes and made our campaigning much, much harder. With supporters like you, who needs enemies?

L McGregor
Falkirk

I WOULD like to use these pages to thank a number of people who looked after me when I contracted Covid. A team of medical staff came to my home every day and treated me with kindness and skill, which I am sure made it possible for me to write this letter.

I am 92 years of age and apart from this Covid have a few scratches and dents gathered over the years which were also taken into consideration during treatment. So, from my practice who alerted my local hospital,who in turn sent a home/medical team (they cannot pay you enough!!!), THANK YOU!!

I would remind elderly folk that the NHS has served us well through the years, and deserves our support now it is under threat. There be monsters, and the vultures are gathering!!

James Ahern
East Kilbride