JUST how stupid is Alister Jack? This man, already far and away the worst “Secretary of I Hate Scotland” in history – and remember that really takes some doing.

He is now saying the Scottish Government should be concentrating on the people’s priorities and delivering for business and the people. Can’t he see this is exactly what it is doing by trying to extricate our country from the UK? Only then can the government up here even start to sort out decade after decade of complete and utter mismanagement and of being treated like the dirt on the bottom of a colonial master’s shoe.

Unionist politicians lied through their teeth in 2014 to try hold on to our vast resources as they have sold anything of value they ever had. Now their beloved financial services industry is also sinking like the Titanic. They will never agree to an indyref2 they do not have a hope in hell of winning as scaremongering, lying and terrifying old age pensioners is not going to work again.

My whole life has been shaped by Tory fools from a party Scotland resoundingly rejects at the ballot box at every single opportunity, but still they are allowed to completely ruin all our lives.

I left school to discover the heinous Thatcher had obliterated our shipyards, our mining and other industries, meaning jobs were like gold dust and poverty was absolutely rampant. And as sure as day follows night, a sense of despair and hopelessness led to many people turning to drugs and alcohol.

There’s not the slightest doubt that Thatcher’s actions in the 1980s not just led to, but created, Scotland’s drug death epidemic. The vile Tory Party knows this but will never give Scotland’s elected government the power to at least try to tackle this.

I had to move south, part of a brain drain involving around 650,000 Scots, as all prospects in our land were torn away from us. I know so many Scots still living down south who have said they would move home in a heartbeat but don’t see the point while they are paying taxes to the same foreign government.

It’s interesting that in 2014 Scots down south were not given the vote but Brits living abroad can vote in the British elections and in Tory Party membership elections.

Listening to the recent goings-on in Niger, I heard the BBC report that “the government there tries to keep its people in poverty while the authorities get rich” – I actually thought they were talking about Britain. The posh-voiced reporter added: “We have recently opened an embassy in the capital city.” Would you believe it, but by strange coincidence Niger only happens to be oil rich!

I just pray my children and grandchildren’s lives are not ruined by another 50 years of a government we detest and reject at every opportunity and that my children can grow up in a far happier, prosperous place, free of the nuclear monstrosities, and from the inane bigotry that keeps us all divided.

Iain K
Dunoon

THE debacle about the status of Scotland within the United Kingdom presents those of us who would say Yes, as well as those who would say No, with a problem that has to be addressed.

I am sure we have all met people like the Baron of Cumnock and the Secretary of State for Scotland who cannot understand why about 50% of the Scottish electorate want to re-instate our ancient independent nation. These two politicians come from different parties and probably disagree on almost everything except the independence issue. To say we must win them over is a vain hope, for their whole identity rests with their concept of the United Kingdom. Their way of handling the situation is to be rude and obstructive, not realising this will only strengthen the resolve of those of us seeking independence. Similarly, being rude and obstructive to Unionists will not achieve anything either.

Neither side is addressing the essential issue, which is the opposing concepts of the United Kingdom. Is Scotland a proud partner in a Union with a great history and even greater future, or is it trapped in one which no longer suits its identity or its aspirations?

While 50% of the electorate want independence, there are 50% that have to be convinced. A constructive dialogue between the two sides must be established because our country is divided on the most fundamental issue, our identity. This is a tragedy for anyone who loves Scotland. We need only look across the water to Northern Ireland to see how destructive this can be.

I genuinely fear for the future of Scotland if this impasse is allowed to continue. Neither side is going away so the only solution is to talk constructively. We do not need any more false political promises that disappear at the earliest opportunity. We need real constructive dialogue with both sides seeking a way to bring peace to our country.

It’s not only Scotland losing out right now. Wales has a similar, though not the same, problem. The real difficulty, as I see it, is that Westminster finds it hard to accept there are genuine concerns about national identity. Westminster needs to listen, and not try to bully, while Holyrood needs to stop name calling. Let us start from the belief that both sides want what is best for the country and its inhabitants. From there progress might be made.

Angus Shaw
Cupar

WHY does our FM not tell “Union” Jack that Holyrood will not stop working on independence until Westminster stops using Scottish taxes to fund all the groups there working on the Union, and he will just have to “suck it up”?

P Davidson
Falkirk

CAN someone tell me where I sign to deselect George Foulkes from standing at the next Westminster election? Oh no, wait a minute ...

Cameron Crawford
Rothesay