Time to stop saying ‘please’ and start showing backbone

Let’s face facts. First, Westminster will NEVER grant a referendum unless forced to, as the UK would lose access to our resources, which they take free of charge. In many cases, we even pay to let them – eg through higher electricity standing charges, 50% higher close to renewable production than in London, furthest from it. Second, you cannot negotiate with an opposite number who refuses to participate, whatever your mandate.

These various suggestions all depend on the uncertain outcome of a future event and therefore simply postpone our independence for longer. At my age, I do not have time to wait.

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Let’s try some ACTION instead. As first minister, Humza Yousaf showed the way, as mentioned in a recent letter, by finding a way round the Westminster block on safe drug injection rooms, using the devolved remit of health, instead of reserved drugs policy.

Alister Jack was forced to accept it or spend money on a legal challenge that might fail. I suggest our current Scottish Government should act similarly, and there are two possible areas where they could achieve a similar outcome very quickly.

The simplest, which could be implemented almost as soon as Holyrood resumes, is to tell all those businesses that have the preparations in place for the Deposit Return Scheme that they may go ahead, if they can confirm the arrangement with their suppliers. This would have two benefits, falling under environment legislation to reduce litter and waste and also make claims for compensation unnecessary.

In any case, I remember returning bottles for refund as a child as did my family, while many children collected and returned any discarded bottles, all without the need for legislation. Would the new co-operative, respectful, Labour government waste time and money on a legal challenge?

The second would require our Scottish Government to show humanity and compassion by demanding that the arms companies operating in Scotland voluntarily delay further shipments to Israel until a permanent ceasefire is signed in Gaza and the hostages returned.

(Image: PA)

We accept that Holyrood does not have power to impose a ban but will these companies reveal to the world that neither their bosses nor their workforce care a jot about the genocide perpetrated by Israel, if it stands in the way of making money?

Such a step would reflect well on Scotland internationally and represent the wishes of most Scots, while highlighting the UK Government’s inhumane support of the inexcusable.

It is time to stop saying please, rebutting and reacting, and to show determination and backbone by taking these and similar steps, leaving our colonial masters to do the challenging. I believe these could be implemented very quickly, without expense, but would show that the SNP government is serious about independence.

It might well encourage some to return to the party and invigorate the Yes campaigners, especially if accompanied by co-operation with other organisations, such as Common Weal and Believe in Scotland.

Moreover, we could then use existing Scottish legislation to ask if our sovereign people want to choose their own future. The answer “yes” could then open up international routes. Come on Holyrood. Don’t just rebut, attack on our terms and let Westminster do the challenging if it dares.

L McGregor

Falkirk

THE current half-hearted attempts by the SNP to convince the public to vote for independence have obviously been an abject failure, with half-a-million supporters lost at the last election.

Persuading any person to vote for a cause is very little different to persuading the same person to buy a product. Marketing anything requires the seller to sell the future benefit of that product or cause.

For example, Coca-Cola or Ford never refer to their past successes but only to the bright future and great lifestyle awaiting the purchaser of their product. In their advertisements they never bother to criticise their competitors but always make a feature of the great taste or comfort or quality to be had in the future if the customer has the great intelligence to buy their product.

This is endlessly repeated until it is an accepted fact by most people.

The SNP should take the same route when promoting independence. Repeat over and over in every political broadcast, on every billboard, the benefits awaiting the citizens of an independent Scotland. The future matters. The past cannot be altered.

Never again make the core of the policy anything so parochial as “Beat the Tories”, which backfired so badly in the General Election.

Look forward to the sunlit uplands of independence, as someone once said, and keep repeating it until it becomes the accepted norm. It works for the market. It could work for us.

James Duncan

Edinburgh

AFTER watching the Rangers game on Tuesday night, I am reminded of a quote by the late, great Bill Shankly: “The trouble with referees is that they know the rules but they do not know the game.”

This was there for all to see throughout the entire match. The officials displayed complete ineptitude, a complete lack of skill or ability in the game of football and the knowledge of how it is played.

I shouldn’t be too surprised, though. That same ineptitude is on display every weekend throughout the SPFL season. Football supporters robbed again, all in the name of defending the ineptitude of the officials.

Jim Todd

Cumbernauld