MAY I address Julia Pannell’s “confusion” contained in her response to my letter of January 20. To her attempt to lecture me on the “functions of a state” and the various economic bodies and institutions needed to make an independent Scotland a reality, my answer is simply that I know and understand how it works!

Further discussion – or should I say lecture – on the merits of having alternative independence parties pursuing their version of independence and the downside and frailties of the D’Hondt method, I also know and understand how it works!

The points I raised and alluded to in the Long Letter had little or nothing to do with any person or body pursuing their right to express, suggest, advise or in fact strongly agree or disagree with the direction that Scottish independence is going. In fact I made this crystal clear in my article.

Let me also make it clear that my article was a clear warning that right now within the independence movement, there is much acrimony, in-fighting, posturing and in fact enmity among a number of bodies and groups who only see “their version” of Scottish independence and how we get there.

Of course we need experts and advisors creating the vision and practicalities needed to ensure the Scottish state operates effectively as it can on the first day of independence. Thank goodness our country has an abundance of politicians, experts, thinkers, professionals and entrepreneurs who can deliver the vision and mission of our social democracy.

Ms Pannell suggests that because of my unconditional support for the SNP, I see the ISP, Greens or any other competing independence parties a threat. Nowhere in my article did I state this. What I am suggesting is that only the SNP party can deliver the number of seats and votes required to achieve a referendum and independence. Reducing their ability to achieve this through public in-fighting, blatant disagreement, upstaging and misplaced criticism of the FM through an anti-SNP media is a recipe for failure and disaster.

There is no guarantee that the SNP will win a majority of Holyrood seats through the constituency vote. Even less likely if the independence-supporting landscape is eroded by in-fighting.

Finally, let’s not forget the voters of Scotland. They are very astute. They may not all be interested in the technicalities of how you “build” a new state or the intricacies of running a country, but believe me, they can see turmoil and division. They can see it, read about it and hear it at every corner.

Right now, let’s all work together, keep the faith. with the one goal of independence uppermost in our minds. Don’t you agree, Julia?

Dan Wood

Kirriemuir

WE are continually facing demands for new strategies regarding indyref2, based upon 19 consecutive polls for Yes.

At present we are facing the biggest pandemic, Covid-19, any of us have ever seen in our lives – well, at the age of 86 I have never seen anything like it. This pandemic shifts around and develops all the time, but Her Majesty’s loyal opposition plays with numbers, making the SNP look bad.

When I worked with John Menzies, one of my colleagues used to say: “If you’re marching you’re no’ fighting.” I see this today.

Circumstances have put a stop to Yes marches, but demands about Plan-anything are ongoing. It is my firm belief that morale is very high sparked by Yes marches. However, Yes marchers will not be able to knock doors.

We win elections by establishing where our vote is, recording this and making sure they cast their vote.

Organising this is vital. Votes do not come out of the blue, and opinion polls do not vote. Canvassing can be long and weary but with a rich reward.

Jim Lynch

Edinburgh

YET again, there is news of multiple businesses falling through the cracks and not eligible for financial support, with all the hardship and poverty that brings.

Is it too much to ask that those who already had immense wealth and have profited hugely from contracts from their friends and family at Westminster should give up these profits of others’ misery to help out?

Or are the struggles of ordinary folk “not my problem, pal”? None of them will starve or be tempted to suicide.

P Davidson

Falkirk

IN response to Neil Munro’s letter in Thursday’s web comments, I would suggest that the May election could be an indy vote.

He says that it would be hard to know what would constitute a Yes win as there would be multiple parties involved; that is correct. However, on indy there is only Yes or No.

As to his second point regarding what is victory, total seats or total votes does not matter as the already established norm in UK elections is the most seats wins the election. UK governments have been formed, with all state powers by 38% of votes. As to what Tories and pseudo-Tories think after that, I can only say: “I don’t give a Donald Duck.”

M Ross

Aviemore

FOR me, Thursday is the best day of the week. For why? The Alex Salmond Show and Lesley Riddoch writing in The National.

Both seem to have their finger on the pulse of UK politics. Both seem to have an insight into the future. Both have the uncanny knack of asking the right questions and giving answers to those questions without waffle, like the clear-thinking people they are.

Sadly neither of them have anything to do with the running of our country.

Walter Hamilton

via email