I HAVE been an active supporter of independence for almost 50 years. In 2014 we almost convinced the magic 50% + 1 of the voters that Scotland could make its own way in the world. Murray Foote, now chief executive of the SNP, and Gordon Brown with his infamous Vow, possibly tipped the balance at the last minute in favour of the status quo.
Since then we have managed to maintain support for independence despite support for the SNP drifting away. Very sadly, the result of the coming UK General Election will probably see a corresponding reduction in the number of SNP MPs at Westminster and, as is being predicted by SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, independence will be off the table for a considerable time.
READ MORE: Humza Yousaf: 'Much to learn' from those who oppose independence
Like it or not, rightly or wrongly, NHS Scotland waiting lists and waiting times, ferry fiascos, gender recognition legislation, police investigations, botched recycling schemes and a fair number of other policy failures will be laid at the door of the Green/SNP government.
2026 is not so far away, with the possibility of a Labour win at the Scottish Parliament elections and then a five-year period to 2031 with no real possibility of another referendum, unless there is an SNP “victory” of some sort at a 2029 UK General Election.
In response to this, the First Minister has just waved in our faces the possibility that, in an independent Scotland, households would be £10,000 a year better off. While that simple message may appeal to a small section of the currently unconvinced voters of Scotland, I suspect there is a large credibility gap in the minds of the most of the rest. £10,000 multiplied by the 2.5 million Scottish households is around £25 BILLION.
Until the SNP can govern in something at least appearing to be a competent fashion, the red and blue Unionists will simply ridicule this figure as fantasy economics.
Brian Lawson
Paisley
READ MORE: Tommy Sheppard: Scottish independence is off table if SNP lose vote
SO according to Tommy Sheppard MP, anyone supporting Scottish independence has to vote SNP otherwise the dream dies and we won’t get another chance at regaining our independence for years!
Mr Sheppard may well be correct in his analysis regarding the voting patterns for the Labour and Tory parties but he’s seriously misreading the situation by threatening independence voters who have had to put up with do-little MPs like Sheppard since 2015. There were multiple chances to put independence to the people of Scotland but the SNP leadership appeared to do nothing but throw spanners into the works.
How exactly have the extra MPs in Westminster actually helped Scotland or our cause of independence? Mhairi Black MP only stated what others are thinking – too many SNP MPs are comfortable with their feet under the Westminster table and want to hang onto their well-paid jobs.
READ MORE: Some SNP MPs 'absolutely love' being at Westminster, Mhairi Black says
I won’t be bullied by the likes of Mr Sheppard into voting SNP. If there is another alternative independence vote (not the Greens) then I can be persuaded to vote for them as I’m unlikely to support the SNP again.
Mr Sheppard and his colleagues installed Humza Yousaf as the party leader and we’ve seen the gap between support for independence and support for the SNP widen.
If we must continue under Westminster rule then at least elect someone who will make a difference –I would guess Mr Sheppard and the vast majority of his colleagues have not done so and do not deserve another chance to keep putting off independence.
Alex Beckett
Paisley
IT was good to see Mark Brown’s perceptive analysis (The real truth about Israel, Palestine and antisemitism, Jan 4) of the need to separate opposition to Israel’s policy and antisemitism, one that the Westminster government refuses to make.
There is a dangerous myth that everyone who is Jewish must give unconditional support to the Israeli state. I have several Jewish friends who are appalled at the policy of the state of Israel and have been for years.
READ MORE: Pro-Palestine activists brand Michael Shanks 'a career politician'
Mark mentions Professor Henry Maitles. He has always written about this at the same time as teaching Holocaust studies in university. His organisation Scottish Jews for a Just Peace were often to be seen on Palestinian demonstrations. It is as ridiculous to claim that those who advocate a boycott of Israel’s goods are racist as to charge Nelson Mandela of being anti-white when he, who dedicated his life to a non-racist South Africa, called for a boycott of goods from the Apartheid regime.
When my good friend the late Denis Goldberg – Mandela’s colleague in the ANC, who served 22 years in jail from the 1964 Rivonia trial – was released and went to visit his daughter in Israel, he was feted there as an anti-Apartheid hero of the struggle. He said to me later: “I didn’t spend my life fighting against one racist tyranny to justify another against the Palestinian people.” Denis had not a racist bone in his body and only cared for justice and freedom for all.
Thank you Mark for once again exposing the untruths that are used to stop legitimate criticism and action on the policy of a state.
Iain Whyte
North Queensferry
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel