THAT the United Kingdom is unravelling is so obvious. But as my granny would have said, there are none so blind as those that will not see. So what is it with the opposition Unionist parties, their leaders and spokespersons here in Scotland?

The writing’s on the wall as well as on social media, and in the latest polls, but do they see?

Do they understand what the population is telling them? Obviously not. Don’t they realise we can see right through that veneer of counterfeit dogmatic authority when they spout that there is no demand, there is no appetite for independence?

And worse, have they yet to grasp that both here and in rUK they are fast becoming an irrelevance? They continue to fight like rats in a sack over a way, any way, forward to prevent crashing out of the EU on October 31, whilst conveniently forgetting the past three years and the efforts, not least coming from the Scottish Government and SNP MPs, to move on cross-party initiatives.

And now we see Labour implode over statements from a man, not in government, not in power, promoting something – possibly a policy position, or less an offer – should they ever obtain power in Westminster. Promises? Vows? Anyone? No, I didn’t think so.

Look at Westminster then, allegedly the political hub of the country, and we see the lack of prudent government, governing for the country as a whole. Westminster is not yet a total irrelevance, but it is fast and permanently becoming more and more so for Scotland. We see the decline of the Tory party, brought to its knees yet again with its in-fighting over Europe. Will that particular party arise again, and if so, in what reincarnation? I worry that it will be even more extreme, inward-looking, isolationist, and pro-free market than at present, expecting to take us with them.

I shouldn’t really care or worry, but I do, since we are still governed by them; unelected by us and thus unrepresentative. But the Tory party is not unique in Scotland in that it lacks the political and social connections and understanding complementing a complete disengagement with what our people and our nation aspires to. LibDems and Labour, like the Tories, continue to cling to visions of their futures that are dependent on their past histories and performances. That the three Unionist parties are now so similar, albeit with their differing self-serving leaders and desire for power first, people second, is breath-taking. Taken in the round, the combined inability of the LibDems and Labour to consistently and forcefully oppose a weakened, splintering Tory party surely speaks to their inability to govern in the future.

But how many of their supporters will see that? How many will act and vote for independence and a forward-looking future? The chances are high that PM Johnson could ride the waves and call a snap election, to capitalise on his delivering Brexit on time. In turn that could be dependent on the opinions of last “expert” on parliamentary and constitutional procedures that he listens to.

And if a General Election is called, what is our stated position? Do we have our arguments lined up for the changed framework, namely out of the EU and pro-indy? We know the doom and gloom, the negativity, the border questions, the unravelling questions and all the rest that will be thrown at us. Personally, I don’t care if it’s called Plan A or Plan B. I’m not a member of any political party, but from the agitation, the tensions and the ongoing, unofficial campaigning that is all around us, it is so apparent we have to be ready for that inevitable vote for independence. I refuse to believe that Johnson and Cummings don’t have a strategy. They do, and we have to be ready. Yes with the passion, but with the pragmatic, thought-out road map that this time, will take us from here to there. There won’t be a third time, well, not in my lifetime.

Selma Rahman
Edinburgh