REFERRING to the letter on Sunday from Peter Barr, it is incorrect to say that the Independence for Scotland Party have thrown in our lot with the Alba Party. I am not aware of how the AFI intend to progress, but the ISP is definitely going forward as a separate party. As a one-off, this election, we stood aside for the sake of Scotland’s independence to maximise the pro-independence vote on the list. We did this in the hope of independence gaining a supermajority next month.

Our party did not do this lightly, and will be watching the results keenly. It was also unlikely that the SNP would embrace us, as our policies are quite different from theirs. The ISP has a detailed manifesto which is not just pro-independence but also aims to stem the attack on women’s rights, to offer a different vision for Europe, and to to build Scotland back differently for the future.

READ MORE: ISP stands down Holyrood candidates in favour of the experience of Alba politicians

On Europe, we favour EFTA/EEA membership at least initially, rather than pre-judging that we will go back into the EU. In economics, we favour an independent Scottish currency, Scottish Central Bank and Scottish Public Bank, as well as the establishment even at this late hour of a Sovereign Wealth Fund, Universal Basic Income and an increase in state pensions.

The Green New Deal includes the living wage for all employees, decentralisation of working practices to establish home working as a norm going forward (at least for part of the working week), and a move to clean energy. We want to broaden and diversify land ownership to benefit all Scotland’s people, not just the few. In response to the spotlight which was put on Scotland’s legal system in the recent inquiries, we intend to depoliticise the office of Crown Counsel. And we want to bring local government back to local people, and overhaul the national transport strategy to take account of rural life, particularly with changing work patterns after Covid.

READ MORE: I will not be gambling on Alex Salmond's pop-up party in Holyrood election

In short, we are not a pop-up independence party. For one thing, it remains to be seen what effect Alba has on the composition of the new parliament, and if there is a supermajority of at least 86 pro-independence MSPs, what will anyone do with it?

A supermajority allows Scotland’s Parliament certain freedoms. It can call an extraordinary (snap) election, or it can use the size of the majority as a push to start independence negotiations. Other powers in the Scotland Act 2016 allow a two-thirds majority to change who is entitled to vote, and change the number of constituencies and how many members are elected. It also allows the voting system itself to be changed from the D’Hondt system. It is to be hoped that the parties that are elected will use their power for Scotland’s good rather than their own.

Julia Pannell
Friockheim, Tayside

LEE Robb (The Long Letter, April 12) hits the sweet spot with his take on the emergence of the Alba Party. Most people I know who advocate independence for Scotland do so not just for the sake of independence but for a deep desire to create an inclusive, outward-looking nation with true democracy at his core.

The call from Alba to “Unite the Clans” is not only cheesy but also rather hypocritical when you consider many of its supporters’ relentless attacks on SNP and in particular Nicola Sturgeon over the last year and beyond. The accusations of her being “too comfy” and “quite content not to see independence happen” have been risible. More worrying, though, has been their attempts to create division by stoking a culture war. Their smears and spread of misinformation regarding the LGBT+ community has been too prolonged to be down to occasional judgements of error, as is their dubious choice of candidates.

READ MORE: Smearing LGBT people to stoke a culture war is a cynical brand of politics

I never thought I would see an indy movement with strong similarities to Trump supporters with their MAGA rantings and hate-filled accusations, but now I have. There will be potential Alba voters who clearly do not fall into this category but for them I suggest, if whatever reason you find it difficult to give SNP your list vote, then the Greens are an already well-established party with more palatable morals and with a greater chance of success.

Like Lee Robb, I can already hear the cries of “I know they have brammers in their ranks but let’s all unite anyway.” Well to be quite frank, NO. I would prefer to vote for a more principled organisation. At this crucial juncture an SNP majority is far more important than an indy majority. Alba are not required to achieve that goal – and no lectures on the voting system, please, I do understand it.

It is nonsense to suggest that they can magically target Unionist seats exclusively on the list system. There is a clear potential for them to split the indy vote on marginal rounds, resulting in SNP missing out on what could mean the difference between a majority or not. Both votes SNP for me.

Alan Black
Paisley

YOUR daily analyses of constituency seats for the forthcoming Holyrood election are useful and informative. But may I take issue with yesterday’s focus on Glasgow Kelvin? In your detailed history of this constituency you name politicians from the SDP, Tory, and Green parties, as well as retired SNP MSP, the excellent Sandra White. In short, you mention everyone but the SNP candidate actually standing for election next month!

Please allow me to rectify that omission: it’s Kaukab Stewart for SNP, Glasgow Kelvin.

Helen Swann
Glasgow