COMMENTING function limited to paid subscribers only ... what? I thought it worked like that already (Important news about commenting on articles in The National, thenational.scot, February 23)! Great idea. The people looking to provoke others aren’t welcome.

Claire Duncan
via email

EXCELLENT! Brilliant! Thank goodness for that! Thank you!

I have become more and more frustrated at the constant trolling and bickering in the comment pages by these people. Their activities have been spoiling true debate amongst those of us who would like to make valuable contributions.

We may disagree with each others’ comments, but we do like to hold civilised conversations – we don’t expect to be sworn at or insulted.

Rebekah Gronowski
via thenational.scot

READ MORE: Important news about commenting on articles in The National

THANK you, thank you, thank you. Not before time. The number of new troll accounts was getting out of hand as panic levels increased amongst the Unionists.

John Dryburgh
via email

ONE of the main reasons I read The National online is to see the comments. I’m not interested in a whole load of boring, middle-of-the-road “SNP are great – don’t rock the boat” stuff. So I shall see how it goes, and consider whether or not to continue with my subscription.

John Gordon
via email

WELL said Alan Hinnrichs (Letters, February 23) regarding the entryism within the SNP. It’s clear to anyone paying attention that a small band of entryists have taken over the SNP – they clearly have the ear of the current leader.

We all remember Nicola Sturgeon saying fighting the pandemic was so important she had no time for anything else – not even independence. Yet she then produces a speech a few weeks ago bemoaning that some of these entryists had flounced out of the party and at the weekend makes a rare visit to the NEC meeting to lecture those present on a definition of transphobia aimed at tackling dissent within the party to her poor leadership of the independence cause.

This will result in many long-standing SNP members and supporters switching their votes to one of the other independence-supporting parties.

Duncan McIntosh
Dunoon

READ MORE: The opposition would love it if we self-imploded, so let's pull together

I FULLY agree with the sentiments expressed by Alan Hinnrichs in Tuesday’s edition. The current governing faction at the top of the SNP appear to to have lost any connection to the views of ordinary independence supporters, party grass roots, or the general public.

Independence was always the main aim of the SNP but recent actions at the top raise concerns if it is even an afterthought in the current set-up. Any concerns expressed about the direction of travel results in a campaign of vilification against those who raise them.

Maybe once all doubters have either been expelled or have resigned and the voters deserted they’ll be self-satisfied and content. What about independence? Oh! that trifle, we’ll get round to that sometime (later).

It’s too close to the election for any other party claiming to support independence to make sufficient headway, but after May, who knows.

The SNP are on notice; either deliver or move over. Does the current cabal realise or even care? Ah hae ma doots!

Drew Reid
Falkirk

WE’VE all heard the phrase “follow the science” when talking about Covid, and every politician is intent on being seen to be “following the science”.

How come, then, when we talk about sex we are not allowed to “follow the science”, indeed we abandon the science? There are only two sexes: male and female. A man cannot become a woman nor a woman a man. It is impossible.

There are certainly 57 varieties of men and women – lesbian, homosexual, transgender, etc etc. However they dress and whatever they call themselves, they are either a man or a woman and of course no-one should be subject to abuse of any kind. It seems to me the biggest “phobia” is now against women of all varieties.

Winifred McCartney
Paisley

NO disrespect to John Fraser (Letters, February 23) but he needs to read my letter more carefully. I am not seeking to cast any blame. I must, though, question his assertion that “the cause has stalled” (something he blames Nicola Sturgeon for) when support for independence is higher than it has ever been and the chaotic events in the Union Unit reveal the complete state of panic the Tories are in.

A better Scotland for my grandchildren to grow up in is possible only via independence and I am desperately worried in case we blow our chances at this late stage in the game!

Alan Woodcock
Dundee