HOW interesting to see that the SNP’s former policy convener Chris Hanlon has decided to implement the SNP’s constitution and stand against Humza Yousaf.
What was disturbing was the hostile and negative commentary that followed the article in The National by (I think) many SNP members who appear to have lost their appetite for constitutional process and debate. Chris’s character was attacked in very insulting terms.
I met Chris in the group set up to educate folk about currency by the redoubtable Andy Anderson and I found him to be a very honest and engaging activist who was fully focused on promoting education on currency and fiscal policies for an independent Scotland.
This is yet another strand in a rather tumultuous two weeks of events highlighting the constitution of an independent Scotland.
The wonderful Winnie Ewing’s funeral with eulogies by Alex Salmond and Alex Neill, the Salvo Stirling Directive challenging the fractures of the Treaty of Union and the new attacks on the Scottish legal framework by Michael Gove and hostile forces in the House of Lords. I have a strong feeling that irate letters from Stephen Flynn to the Westminster elite will hardly shake its woodwormy rafters!
One idea that will probably unite many of the independence supporters in Scotland is that Westminster politics are utterly broken. What is revealed is that the cruelty, greed and opportunism that characterised the building of empire by the ruling class, are now built into Westminster politics and mirrored in the LibDems and the Labour Party.
What to do about it? My view would be for all the strands of the indy movement to come together in a Scotland United ticket either in Holyrood or in a General Election and achieve independence, hard as that fight will be.
The narrative after the article about Hanlon suggests that there is too much hostility for that to happen, however urgent this is.
But what is clear is that we need all brave and bold initiatives to undermine the establishment and build unity for us, for ourselves.
Maggie Chetty
Glasgow
WELL done to Chris Hanlon for being brave enough to use the SNP constitution. If members don’t like the fact that someone can contest the leadership then they should bring a motion to conference to change the constitution.
However, two things stood out from Mr Hanlon’s well-argued position: Firstly, he said that the NEC had changed the rules about how the leadership should be contested each year. Surely this should have been a decision for conference to make and the membership should’ve been told about it?
Secondly, Chris says he has the difficult logistical task of manually getting people to sign his nomination forms. Why is this the case?
When Humza became leader of the party you could simply log into the website and select a candidate you wanted to nominate. It seems the process is stacked against the grassroots.
Frank Wood
Port Glasgow
WHILE indy-supporting parties have a majority in the governance of Scotland, should we not have a bill to prevent parties not headquartered in Scotland and having affiliation to any party based in a foreign country within its political structures?
Which other parliament is dependent on a foreign government for its existence?
This will end the subservient branch office mentality held by at least three parties in Holyrood. The origin of any individual who wishes elected to our governance is not relevant, their desire to improve Scotland is. The adherents of the then ex branch offices can the focus their energies towards issues which are solely and purely concerned with the governance of Scotland.
M Ross
Aviemore
GLASGOW’S Low Emission Zone fines have been running at about 100 a day, earning about £180,000 a month for the city council from the pockets of people who can’t afford to buy new cars, while the scheme is making a minuscule difference to the air quality. This would appear to a wealth tax in reverse. Is this really what today’s SNP stands for?
Glenda Burns
Glasgow
WHILE the House of Lords provides a useful parking space for political has-beens to nurse their resentment of an ungrateful electorate, I think it is unkind to encourage the fantasies of relevance of such as Baron Foulkes by giving them such extensive coverage.
Richard W Russell
Bowmore
WE are still in need of a leader who wants independence for Scotland above all else and is prepared to do anything to achieve it.
Once that person emerges the people of Scotland will respond and support for independence will surge.
Sanny Martin
Via thenational.scot
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