WE asked you how the campaigns are going in your area. Here’s what you told us ...

I AM in Kate Forbes’s constituency, or at least in the Drumnadrochit part of this huge area, but I also travel to Moidart to visit my shellfish farm. My impression is that that the Unionist parties don’t seem to be bothering to campaign as far as posters on lampposts are concerned. It is only the SNP that seem to be doing that. The Tories, of course, have the money to give us voluminous mail shots, which for me go straight into the bin. I voted SNP 1 & 2 because my main purpose is to achieve an independence majority. Regretfully, that meant not putting my cross against Andy Wightman, but needs must.

Bill McDermott

Drumnadrochit

I HAVE delivered hundreds of #BothVotesSNP in Cumbernauld in the past weeks. Jamie Hepburn should be a shoo-in.

I believe that some subtlety could have been used rather than the “two votes” message. Thousands of SNP votes will be wasted in Central Scotland. Personally I gave my postal list vote to the Greens. It is a electoral blunder, in terms of an indy majority, for the Greens to go up against SNP for constituency votes.

I could not bring myself to vote for Alba on the list given Salmond’s vendetta against the First Minister.

John McKay

via email

FIFE is a strong SNP area apart from the North East which is held by Willie Rennie. Clearly with winning so many constituency seats the other parties pick up the list seats.

After the three debates and the television interviews it’s very clear that all parties apart from the SNP have no intent to be in power. They have produced pie-in-the-sky manifestos that they have no hope of implementing. Their campaigning so far (apart from The Greens) has been anti-SNP and all that entails with no consideration for the Scottish public.

I haven’t heard anything positive about any of the start-ups, particularly Alba. The general feeling is a SNP majority.

Jim Balloch

Markinch

SADLY in our little group of 10 houses there has been an absence of any campaign apart from the numerous cards delivered by our postie. They are mostly for the Tories and George Galloway so they are immediately discarded. It’s as if the election wasn’t happening – no-one has been at our door, there are no party posters and as good neighbours we haven’t discussed politics as we want to remain friends. Our nearest villages and town are Colmonell, Ballantrae and Girvan. Nothing seems to have stirred the people in them either! I’m just hoping that this is good news and that those of us who want independence still retain their enthusiasm and that the Unionists are bored by it all!

Tom Smith

via email

VERY strong SNP campaign around Annan, supporting Joan McAlpine. Good numbers of volunteers, great response in the streets and many window posters and car stickers in evidence!

Chris Austin

via email

I HAVE distributed leaflets for the SNP in Scarfskerry, Mey, and Thurso. I have seen SNP signs in windows in Thurso, which is encouraging. I am hopeful Maree Todd wins.

Mary C Melton

via email

LEAFLETING going well in Bearsden South, although I’m not the organiser! Fitbit working hard! Social media becoming a bit of an echo chamber but trying to get the message out to younger voters.

Catherine Fisher

Bearsden

DOING my bit on Twitter. Most of the campaigning is being done on social media.

Leaders’ debates even for a committed independentista like myself are a total switch-off. Don’t watch them. Don’t think I am alone.

David Smart

via email

I LIVE in the Highlands, and I am updated by the SNP when they are having Zoom calls etc. So from my perspective it seems good. However, just coming out of lockdown means I have no idea how anything is going outside of the communications or my own area. I won’t go to any meetings as I am a shielder as described, I have no wish to place myself in enclosed spaces with anyone.

I have already sent in my 1&2 vote, I have to admit, I have never seen so many candidates on my voting ballot! I felt like I had a dance card to tick off, and the dance has come to the Highlands, parading their thoughts, what policies they would bring in with what I could see, absolutely no credibility or experience beneath it all.

Anyway, common sense says, vote for the person who has kept us updated nearly every single day and used her common sense every step of the way.

Jen Newell

via email

NOT a great deal of banners on display in Lossiemouth, there are a few but not many so far. Most of my friends are SNP, however the fishing debacle is not being pushed in the media at all. This should be front page – things have changed since the days of Winnie Ewing, who put the fishing industry on the front page. We all think Nicola is doing a great job, but the red-top media do not publicise such events.

Dan Bruce

via email

OUR local SNP candidate Michelle Thomson has been great. She’s been chatting online with various other candidates as well as local councillors, I’ve found it very informative and have shared these conversations with others. She is sharing her leafleting tour of the area on Facebook.

Have not had anyone canvassing our street, but plenty flyers coming through the door.

Mary Murray

via email

I AM an older voter living in the southside of Glasgow and have not seen a single poster or anything at all connected with this election, absolutely nothing.

I find it really unusual as in the past posters were plastered everywhere, all over Glasgow not just in my locale.

Can’t say I miss it as they are usually left up and many of them were difficult to remove. And I haven’t heard a single loudspeaker vehicle at all!

Peter Gunn

via email

OUT leafleting for Alba in Banff this week. Lots of waves and smiles.

However, one elderly lady made a point of running out her house, tearing up the leaflet in front of me and putting it in the bin.

I remained polite and said “that’s OK, but it is perhaps worth bearing in mind that the man on the leaflet you have just torn up was responsible for you having free prescriptions and a free bus pass – just a thought”.

Iain Cameron

Banff

JUST received leaflets from every party and its dog via the postman. All but one went in the bin: SNP 1&2 for me.

R Nugent

via email

I WOULDN’T normally get in touch but feel it is important to say some things that I have noticed over the election period.

The leaders debate are a rabble, mainly because there are little men with no policies to promote shouting over the First Minister as she tries to answer questions and lay out actual manifesto plans, it seems clear that Mr Ross, Mr Sarwar, Mr Rennie have absolutely no substance and nothing to put forward to the Scottish people that would entice us to vote for them.

Mr Harvie and the FM have been great, progressive, friendly, articulate and have not needed to shout abuse at other leaders.

The media are just as bad, they never hold the Tories accountable for any of their lies or lack of policies preferring to abuse the SNP and Greens at every opportunity, it needs to be more balanced in my opinion.

I have enjoyed watching the canvassing on social media and have been to a couple of online events which have been informative and useful in helping me make my voting decisions.

I fail to understand the relevance of Mr Ross he has nothing to offer us, when I received the leaflets through the post the Tory party did not have one policy listed, they did mention independence a lot on it though! The candidates in my area are well known, friendly and approachable (SNP) and work in partnership with local community groups etc, they do serve our area well. (South Lanarkshire)

Anonymous

CAMPAIGN going well. I believe the SNP will be back in Holyrood after the election.

However I also hope to see Alex Salmond in Holyrood pushing Nicola Sturgeon to get on with independence for Scotland ASAP. She’s a career politician and that’s no good for independence.

Sandra Lawson

via email

IN my area virtually nothing! Not a single poster in the vicinity.

Usually lampposts etc are festooned long after the campaign is over. Not this time so far.

There have plenty of leaflets from MSP hopefuls most unwanted and unread but today I was delighted to receive the Alba leaflet which, as it opens out into a poster, I have put it in my window! I also received the SNP Ash Denham leaflet which I read and retained.

At 77 I am restricted in what I do. I am however registered online, with several Yes blogs and sites, for Independence information and thankfully these do not disappoint.

As for TV debates, I refuse to watch those because they ignore Alba! This is an outrage and totally undemocratic!

My local Yes shop has just reopened but I haven’t yet managed to visit it.

I shall be voting SNP 1/Alba 2! The more Yes MSPs the better!

Alex Salmond has given us all great hope in starting his Alba Party. We knew he would never let us down!

May Collins

via email

I LIVE in Edinburgh West and I have been inundated with leaflets and letters mainly from Tories and LibDems some delivered by hand via local activists and others via Royal Mail.

The bad news is that until last week I had received nothing from SNP and Sarah Masson seems to be very quiet for anyone who is unaware of her.

So, despite her claims that it will be a close result I fear that Alex Cole-Hamilton will hold on to his seat comfortably.

David Hall

via email