IT is interesting that some who regularly claim the people of Scotland do not want independence, even when the polls have strongly suggested otherwise, now consider it worthwhile to spend their time writing letters to newspapers (other than The National) contriving exaggerated criticisms of the candidates for the leadership of the primary independence party.

Most objective commentators would agree that in terms of basic leadership qualities, such as competence and integrity, neither Liz Truss nor Boris Johnson came close to emulating Nicola Sturgeon. While Humza Yousaf has been focused on guiding the NHS in Scotland through the global pandemic and the most demanding period in NHS history, Matt Hancock not only appeared to be distracted at times but did not “follow the medical advice”. Successive austerity-driving UK Chancellors have presided over spiralling debt, low growth and high inflation with Kwasi Kwarteng and Nadhim Zahawi falling far short of the performance of Kate Forbes in terms of economic competence and integrity.

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Most objective commentators would also agree that Scotland has the natural resources and capable people to emulate the performances of independent European countries with similar populations and thus to make a success of determining its own future. UK democracy has become a sad joke, being tied to a feudal autocratic form of government open to cronyism and corruption which in most developed countries has been consigned to history. If those who seem obsessed with criticising everything to do with the SNP and the Scottish Government are so convinced of the popularity of primary government from Westminster (essentially through representatives of constituencies in England), why are they so keen to have the Holyrood parliamentary mandate provided by the people of Scotland to hold a referendum blocked?

It would appear that either they are duplicitous in their claims or that they do not have confidence in their fellow “Scots” to emulate the progress their ancestors have achieved in many other countries around the world. Perhaps it is not the SNP’s young leadership candidates who are lacking, but those who are illogically or possibly selfishly, if not immorally, wedded to the past and cannot see beyond a grossly dysfunctional Union.

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Regardless of who becomes the SNP’s new leader, most supporters of independence agree that immediate renewed focus on self-determination is required to rapidly build support to 60% and within the next three years, via a referendum or de facto referendum, to confirm the majority public support that will enable Scotland to legitimately re-claim its independence.

Stan Grodynski
Longniddry, East Lothian

I READ with interest but no surprise that Humza Yousaf is considering employing senior members of the government to put in place the necessary relationships with Europe in order for Scotland to rejoin the European Union.

I initially suspected that perhaps he was unaware that Scotland needs to be an independent country first and foremost. But then Yousaf did mention, in passing almost, that indeed Scotland does need its independence from the Union of these oh-so-disunited kingdoms beforehand.

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However, he still does appear to have things the wrong way round. So far, in the hustings where he is vying for the position of First Minister, he has failed to come up with any plan or even an idea or two on how Scotland is to achieve its independence.

This being the case, he does seem to display a lack of confidence if he feels it necessary to employ senior politicians do the work of rejoining the EU for him, as he might also need others to figure out a way achieving Scotland’s independence.

His already mentioned lack of success in previous ministerial posts by Kate Forbes does appear to indicate a lack of ability in any serious considerations for any future plans for Scotland. Which suggests to me Humza Yousaf’s inability to be, in any which way, a successful First Minister of Scotland.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

OH the irony. I have just dispatched my vote for the next leader of the Scottish National Party and therefore the next First Minister of Scotland. To which region of our nation did I send this important document? Edinburgh? Glasgow? No, Southampton. Couldn’t our Scottish party not find anywhere in this country to count a few ballot papers and come up with the result? Oh well, at least it wasn’t Moscow, Russia. (Not wanting to offend Moscow, Scotland.)

Kenny Burnett
Aberdeen

I AM grateful to The National for the apparent rehabilitation of Dr Tim Rideout and his most important article on currency and banking (Answers to some FAQs about Scotland’s post-indy currency, Mar 13).

Two points to be brief which need to be made. I was furious at Dr Rideout’s suspension from the SNP by some misguided official, and hope and trust that the three comrades are aware of the importance of getting his message on currency over to a very suspicious public.

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Currency and the talk of using the UK pound sterling was one of the main reasons why we had no answer to the constant questions posed by all including the Unionists. I was around in 2014 and knew this would be one of the main reasons for our failure and no-one was willing to tackle the problem seriously. Now that we thankfully have sensible and practical solutions, we need the three amigos to embrace the FAQs presented by Tim Rideout and use this in policy discussion.

This can be turned into a benefit for an independent Scotland. Been to Denmark or the Czech Republic recently? They are happy with their currency, which is not euro. Why not us? Well done Dr Tim Rideout.

Doug Drever
Dundee