AS often quoted, the Smith Commission Report in November 2014 says “nothing in this report prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose”, and I firmly believe that the people of Scotland will choose to make Scotland an independent country.

How do we get to that point? We agitate from a position of strength in the polls, when support for independence is sustainably above 55%.

How do we get to that position? By not being meek, by being assertive.

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Instead of our support being steadily weakened by a barrage of hyperbolic criticism of the state of our NHS, we should go on the front foot at every opportunity, to proclaim the relative better state of our NHS, and care service, versus the rest of the UK. Similarly, we should constantly remind folks that in many ways our education system outperforms the rest of the UK.

In exchanges, our MPs and MSPs are too often caught with no riposte when a Unionist politician will throw in a barb about the state of our NHS or education, by way of a Parthian shot.

A rebuttal service would be of limited help when the repetition of spin against the performance of the Holyrood government is so persistent in delivery and coverage.

No, we have to be getting our own positive messages out there, ad nauseam.

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The fact that most Unionists feel they are able freely to criticise our NHS, without sounding ridiculous, is because we have not identified Scotland’s NHS for what it is – the best-performing NHS in the UK.

The Scottish electorate consider the state of our economy to be an important issue. If concerns over the cost of living and over inequality were to be considered together with the economy, then we would be faced with clearly the most important issue, apart from maybe the NHS.

Brexit is a gift to our cause – don’t look that horse in its mouth! By persistently reminding the electorate of the damage caused to Scotland by Brexit, we can emphasise the attractions of an independent Scotland returning to the single market and freedom of movement: lower costs, better services, etc.

Ireland – what a bonus this presents. Little old Ireland, with a population less than Scotland, has contrived to achieve for its people a GDP per head of more than twice the UK average. Begorrah!

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That last fact should be sung from the rooftops of Holyrood, whenever there is any mention of the economy. When the realisation really sinks in – and I suspect it has started to – that the UK is a relative economic basket case compared to near neighbours, then watch those indy poll figures soar.

The forthcoming SNP convention does not inspire.

We need urgently to educate the electorate, as afore-mentioned, with a vigour and a persistence that Scotland’s sad state requires.

When the poll results rise to around 60% in favour of independence, we can expect huge crowds on the streets to clamour for a referendum.

Then how we approach the General Election will be irrelevant (it will anyway be a huge win for the indy parties), because Alistair Jack will be seeing his de facto “duck”.

Alan Adair
Blairgowrie

MY warmest thanks go to all the supporters of Scottish independence in the Netherlands (Dutch activists take to the Hague to march for Scottish independence, thenational.scot, May 28). We have lots of support from around the world and only Britain is against us achieving our goal.

Richard Wickenden
via thenational.scot