GORDON Ferrie expresses concern that voters – presumably SNP voters – may be disillusioned and fail to turn out to vote at the next election, citing the “hypocrisy” of the defectors not seeking re-election for their new chosen party (Letters, November 13).
He may have a point, albeit a moot one. However, isn’t the real hypocrisy rather that of those like me voting for the SNP, citing a vote for them as a vote for an independent Scotland, to just witness them sitting on their hands doing little to actually make it happen, to fall into line with Unionist control, and accept and try to administer the failing status quo in the face of the worst, most reactionary right wing – to the point of fascist control – and failing Westminster government in my lifetime?
READ MORE: Alba pile pressure on SNP to back indyref2 bid in King's Speech debate
And isn’t another real hypocrisy my voting for this SNP government only to find it supplicating itself to a Green Party I would never vote for, and not only allowing it representatives at senior government level it doesn’t deserve, but also as a consequence bringing in a raft of uneconomic Green policies, and also unwarranted social re-engineering policies – anathema to many – pandering to vociferous minorities, which I suspect may be the real reason why the SNP’s relationship with its former voters has become more tenuous?
Rather than denigrate those who have said enough is enough and reluctantly jumped ship to a party that was only created because of SNP dithering over independence, shouldn’t those like Gordon Ferrie be looking inwards to their party to question its leadership about why they’re not putting indy as the urgent priority and actively campaigning to explain to undecided voters how the Union fails us and how indy is the only means to redress the problems it inflicts on us?
READ MORE: Youth activism lets me meet like-minded people who care about Scotland
Those defecting to Alba are only the message-carriers. They’re not the problem. The message is the problem. And playing the election-process card rather than recognising the real problems, that’s what is really turning voters away.
Because if the SNP can’t, refuses to, or fails to deliver its primary aim of independence, what is the point of the party and why should anyone vote for it?
There’s hopefully still time before the next election. Start openly working with the wider movement and other parties, place indy at the forefront, sort out the message and lead Scotland to independence. And explain, explain, explain.
It’s not rocket science, just common sense, logic and patriotism.
And there’s dozens of correspondents in this journal’s own effective “citizens forum” showcasing the cause we all fervently support. Start listening.
Jim Taylor
Edinburgh
IN the Sunday National, in an article by Judith Duffy concerning a white paper on EU plans, she quotes the Constitution Secretary, Angus Robertson, as saying, “A second ballot on whether or not to rejoin the bloc [EU] would not be needed post-independence, as the choice put to Scottish voters would be an independent Scotland within the EU or staying in the UK” (Government set to reveal white paper on EU plans, Nov 12).
I think this is a rash move. At the referendum about leaving or staying in the EU, I voted to remain in the EU, but only because I believed at that time that it would protect Scotland from the wilder excesses of the English government. When Scotland becomes independent, I would much rather join the Scandinavian countries in Efta, which seems to be working extremely well for them. I am not at all in favour of rejoining the EU as I believe we would not be truly independent in that situation.
The decision on whether to be independent or remain in the UK should be just that. Anything else can be decided by a ballot once we are in full control of our affairs.
Tony Perridge
Inverness
CHRIS McEleny (National, Nov 13) makes a brave case for all future ferry orders to be placed at his local Port Glasgow yard which is still attempting to complete the two now internationally infamous ferries. He points to the very obvious failures of the past and, regardless of these facts, hopes that some kind of integrated procurement process will guarantee all future Calmac ferries will be built at the yard. This would in fact not be a procurement process, with tenders and bidders, but a guarantee of jobs for the Port Glasgow boys and girls at any cost and in any timescale.
READ MORE: Scottish Government must act now to secure future of Ferguson Marine shipyard
The yard’s track record so far does not fill anyone with confidence. The hundreds of millions pounds of overspend has no doubt been transferred from other parts of the Scottish Government’s limited coffers. That money could have been spent on the Scottish health service employing hundreds of doctors, nurses and support staff. I sadly note Mr McEleny fails to address the £128 million consumed by the yard which the Auditor General is still trying to locate.
If Mr McElnely wanted to build an extension to his home, would his first and only choice be the builder who has taken an extra five years to complete his neighbour’s home extension and at five times the original cost? I rather doubt it.
John Baird
Largs
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here