SO, John Swinney has confirmed that he “will stick with the Yousaf strategy on independence.” This strategy firstly requires the SNP to win “the majority of Scottish seats” at the next General Election.

Now, forgive me for sounding somewhat pessimistic but on current polling, I suspect the SNP will be lucky even to win the 11 seats that they won half a century ago in the election of 1974! I remember it well.

The strategy then is to take that (unlikely) mandate to the UK Government and begin negotiations on “fresh action”, whatever that means, and to “ask” Westminster for more powers!

READ MORE: AI deepfake video of John Swinney on Sky News goes viral on Twitter

Are Swinney and the SNP hierarchy naive, hopelessly optimistic, or just plain ignorant of certain obvious facts?

Firstly, the chances of the SNP achieving a majority at the next UK election are disappearing at an increasing rate.

Secondly even if, by some miracle, the SNP do manage to achieve a majority, the notion that any Westminster government, blue or red, will pay a blind bit of attention to any request from the Scottish Government for more powers is strictly for the birds.

The Unionists in Westminster may be arrogant, venal and vicious but they aren’t stupid. They know that they simply can’t afford to let the “cash cow” that is Scotland go. So they won’t, no matter how much of a mandate we have. Humbly pleading for another referendum only makes us appear needy and pathetic. Please sir, may we have one, sir, please? Well the English-dominated Supreme Court slammed shut that door to independence and no amount of begging will open it. Forget it!

READ MORE: Labour and the Tories will forever be offering us less than the SNP

Swinney also stated the importance of winning voters around to independence. “We have to advance the arguments for independence,” he says.

So, what’s his strategy for doing that? Another dozen white papers that nobody reads? More “progressive policies” that the ordinary voter doesn’t really give two hoots about? More marches that he himself doesn’t attend?

It has been suggested that the only way forward now is to increase independence support to greater than 60% by an all-out forceful campaign, tell Westminster to get lost and put our case for recognition to the UN and the international community at large. Is that possible? Is it realistic? Are there no smart, legal minds in the SNP able to really investigate this as an alternative path? How about you, Joanna Cherry?

READ MORE: Kezia Dugdale: Labour may scrap free tuition fees in Scotland

To be blunt, I found reading John Swinney’s speech profoundly depressing. Full of vague soundbites and empty of substance. If this is the best he can do then I despair.

The SNP has had my support and my vote in every single election since the 1960s but, for the first time in my life, I’m beginning to wonder if there’s any point in continuing to do so!

And I don’t think I’m alone.

Duncan H
Glasgow

NOW that the dust is settling, I think there is room for some optimism. The numbers following the council elections in England would suggest that there is a real possibility of a hung Westminster parliament after the upcoming election.

We must ensure that the SNP are in a position to benefit from this by inviting those who want an independent Scotland to use their vote for SNP on the understanding that this will be regarded as a mandate for negotiation. I believe that this is a chance for our MPs to prove they are not corrupted by the system and that the British government will be forced to listen. The more MPs, the greater chance of success in such a strategy. Electoral pacts with Alba should be made. Do what Labour and the Tories say and get “obsessed with independence”.

Colin Harvey
Kirkintilloch