THE letter from RG Clark (Nov 29) regarding Anas Sarwar’s award of top prize at the Herald’s annual Politician of the Year ceilidh resonated with me, as you printed one from myself in a very similar vein when Ruth Davidson received her award in 2016.
Also in that year, pure comedy gold was mined when David Mundell was named “Westminster Scot of the Year”.
Mundell, for those fortunate enough to have forgotten him, was a Tory so utterly and pathetically useless that he stood out even in the Tory party.
However, could Sarwar’s award perhaps not be the sponsors attempting to give us a laugh, but an indication of something more alarming?
READ MORE: Ian Blackford to step down as SNP Westminster leader
In 2016, with Labour wallowing in the doldrums, the media apparently decided to pass the Unionist baton to the Tories, in the hope they might nick a few Holyrood seats.
Cue the “make Davidson credible” campaign, involving endless photo ops of a relentlessly jolly Ruth performing stunts.
The press campaign ran in tandem with BBC Scotland, whose staff seemed to be under strict instruction that in interviews there were to be no questions regarding her complete lack of meaningful social or environmental policies.
There were apparently also orders issued that under no circumstances was Davidson to be constantly interrupted when being interviewed.
In light of Sarwar’s sudden elevation to greatness, could it be the Scottish media has decided the Scottish Tories are toast, and under Sarwar Labour will once again be trusted to lead the charge: rebellious Scots to crush?
If so, look out for more press sycophancy and even softer kid gloves being donned when Sarwar is being interviewed on TV.
Malcolm Cordell
Broughty Ferry
EVERYONE in the independence movement, including the Scottish Government, should do more to counter the false Unionist narrative that independence is a distraction from tackling our day-to-day problems. On the contrary, the powers of independence, notably the ability to issue our own currency, are the key to resolving so many current disputes and seemingly intractable problems which are scarring the lives of ordinary people.
For example, an independent Scotland would be able to reduce electricity bills substantially because of our much greater availability of cheaper renewable energy resources in relation to demand compared with the position south of the Border. And an independent Scottish Government with its own currency would have much greater flexibility to respond to entirely reasonable pay demands from teachers and health workers than the present situation in which the devolved government is simply a user of Sterling and (much like private households) has to balance its budget.
READ MORE: Who is Stephen Flynn? The MP who's favourite to replace Ian Blackford
We could finally escape the appearance of being constantly reliant on the largesse of the UK Government to meet our needs – an illusion which has nothing to do with the UK’s “broad shoulders” but everything to do with the fact that the UK can issue its own currency and Scotland presently cannot.
We should take every opportunity to bring home to people in Scotland that independence is not an abstract concept but a practical way forward to improve all our lives, and those of our children and grandchildren.
John Randall
Isle of Lewis
ALISTER Jack and his cronies insist folk in Scotland should respect the outcome of the 2014 referendum while they don’t respect the promises they made of staying in the EU amongst other things. Let’s face it, despite what he says – that people will know when the time is right for Scotland to choose its future – the only reason they agreed to the referendum last time is that they were certain they were going to win and it would bury the issue for a long time. Cameron nearly lost his shirt over it, despite the Queen “purring”.
READ MORE: Alister Jack reveals UK civil service could block Scottish indyref2 preparation
Jack also claims that the SNP and Greens can’t fight the next Westminster election on a cherry-picked single issue as people vote for a whole manifesto. What if the only item on the manifesto is the referendum or independence? Come to think of it, the only thing worth putting in the General Election manifesto is the independence issue because in other areas we are ignored in Westminster and anyway these other matters refer more to the Scottish Parliament.
Since Labour have, foolishly, said they won’t work with the SNP, maybe SNP MPs should be less frequent visitors to the Commons to demonstrate more independence.
Hugh Walker
Dunfermline
NUCLEAR energy may yet prove to be this nation’s undoing, and maybe the planet’s (UK’s ‘Great British Nuclear’ body will leave ‘toxic legacy for centuries’, Nov 29). Is there no end to the folly of Westminster? The nuclear issue is our most important reason for gaining independence and allowing sanity to prevail.
Iain R Thomson
Strathglass
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here