I’m convinced the SNP are planning for indy behind closed doors

The long-serving SNP members I have come across have all served to fill gaps beyond my own shorter several years of membership. It is something to remind ourselves what the SNP represents, namely Scotland’s independence.

Throughout my working life I have developed into a strong socialist activist through my political activities within the workplace.

Since my retirement it has not stopped. I migrated to Scotland with my Glaswegian partner, now my wife, and continued as a member of the SNP.

READ MORE: After independence all parties will stand on an equal platform

Like Stuart I am, by all accounts, no longer young. I’m a wee bit slower getting around maybe, but still try to be active and very much supportive. Like trade unions, political parties don’t always get things right. Some never do, depending on who you support of course. But let us not get complacent or dispirited. I have convinced myself that our government, whilst doing the day job, recently under pressure and extremely well, are making the necessary plans for independence, behind locked doors, with a committee of extremely experienced people and members of the government.

I have tried to distil this to others through social media conversation, taking note that others have a different viewpoint resulting, in my view, in attempts to create the so-called list parties as a means of securing a majority independence vote.

READ MORE: Beware those who are seeking to divide us

Whatever I think about that, I know how I will be voting. Another point I have tried to emphasise is Charlie Ambrose’s comments, namely, let’s get independence done! That is more important than splitting the debate as to whether we vote with EU membership in mind as well. That is not, at this point, important whereas independence is. We can debate which road to take and even how many once our independence is achieved. We can vote for a different party once independence is achieved, although I’m not sure that Labour and Liberal Democrats would have the same leadership. Or even the Scottish Tory branch for that matter.

Let’s not concern ourselves too much about the SNP. Coronavirus has given Nicola Sturgeon room for thought, which has made her a much visually and politically stronger First Minister. She will do her job while we Yessers have our job to do. As some would say, “let’s keep the heid”.

Alan Magnus-Bennett
Fife

CHARLIE Ambrose suggesting the SNP won’t be given a free rein after “The Day” of independence hits a note with me, but clearly not with the other Scottish political parties.

After listening to the debate about voting for other parties on the list in next year’s Scottish elections, I will be voting SNP both times. But like Mr Ambrose, I view this just as a means to an end that Westminster will take notice of. Thereafter, the gloves are off.

Each party will have the opportunity to win my vote based on their political ethos, the merit of their policies and the quality of those they present to deliver them.

Unlike Mr Ambrose, I don’t share his support for the current SNP leadership, and wouldn’t be surprised if their woeful “parking” of independence at this time is entirely due to the reasons he has suggested. They must surely realise that achieving independence for them is tantamount to “crossing the Rubicon”, the worth of their policies exposed by removal of the collective striving for independence; their future, at best, precarious.

Isn’t it easy for the SNP to wend their way through policies the electorate really don’t care too much about when their Scottish opposition is weak, floundering on the popular desire for independence and focused on delivering the MPs to support their British party masters to win control of Westminster, now surely an illusion, rather than the genuine interest of the Scots they represent?

The UK union is a dead union walking. The Scottish parties must surely come to realise that their future lies in appealing to an electorate in an independent Scotland. Those who have traditionally supported them need them to get with the programme. Don’t they need to adjust, improvise and overcome their intransigence and work to reflect and address the interests of those who would support them?

I’m waiting. Where are they?

Jim Taylor
Edinburgh

DEAR Ruth Wishart,

In response to your inspiring piece in The National on Monday (This is far from the time for the SNP to keep shooting themselves in foot, August 3) you are NOT a bit silly and I’m just wondering how you’re fixed for leading an independence campaign in 2021? You’d get to pick all the names on the team sheet and anybody – prima donna, hiheidyin or no – bent on self-indulgent or destructive behaviours against the team and the manager’s vision should not even be welcomed onto the training ground.

First Minister Nicola has got well enough to contend with in steering a steady course through the pandemic crisis – and I can’t think there’s anybody who could do a better job at that than her.

READ MORE: Ruth Wishart: The SNP are their own worst enemy

However, like you I agree that gender issues and other matters need to wait until after we’ve won our independence. The movement for independence has its heart in the right place and plenty of us will see that we get this issue right for folks in Scotland after we’ve seen off Johnson, Gove and their devolution wrecking crew.

Unionist diabastricals accuse the SNP of being the party of grievance and division. Grievance? Grievance? Yer chuffin right we are, because we’ve got plenty to be aggrieved about and come 2021 we demand independence for the people of Scotland!

Anne Thomson
Falkirk