England's own independence may stop it from falling to far-right

The Welsh are making steady progress towards self-government but the people of England – in spite of the arrogant and patronising bluster of many of their elected and unelected representatives at Westminster – appear to suffer from a lack of confidence to take charge of their own destiny and to allow, if not encourage, the other nations of these islands to go their own ways.

This fundamental lack of confidence is holding back not only England but the other countries/nations of these islands which is exemplified with Poland’s economy (following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the democratic election of an independent government in 1991) on a trajectory to overtake the UK economy within the next five years.

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For centuries, England has relied on the people and resources of those “other nations”, and continues to do so today.

This dependence has no doubt diminished confidence in the people of England to go their own way (and regrettably the Brexit debacle will have done little to restore confidence) but sooner or later they must face up to the fact that the earlier England develops the courage to stand on its own two feet and establish its own identity, the sooner future generations of all the nations of these islands, including the English, will prosper.

In the meantime, far-right groups in England will increasingly fill the void of unfulfilled English patriotism to the lasting detriment of all of the people of these islands.

Stan Grodynski

Longniddry

AFTER the disappointment of the 2014 referendum, I, like many others, have been a paid-up member of the SNP. This, because I believe Scotland to be a country and not a region of England and I believe it would be nice if Scotland was governed as a modern democracy instead of as the vassal state it, now, is.

Friday saw the start of the 90th annual SNP conference and we saw Stephen Flynn exhorting members to “stop pointing fingers” as he reflected on the recent poor showing at the General Election. There’s a “need to look forward instead of inward”. He’s right: Scottish emancipation will not come to pass while the SNP, or Alba, or the Scottish Greens continue to overlook, or ignore, the forces the British establishment have ranged against them!

(Image: PA)

Currently, the SNP seem to think that, if they politely ask a Westminster government for permission to have a referendum, then Westminster will acquiesce.

This, of course, completely overlooks the fact that no Westminster Unionist cabal is ever going to risk losing control of the resource-rich cash cow that is Scotland!

And what do the Unionists have in their armoury? Well, a read of Wee Ginger Dug and his column on propaganda gives some insight. I would add to his observations regarding the Scottish press and BBC Scotland and submit this for consideration – what is the raison d’être of the British security services if it is not to subvert any perceived threat to the integrity of the Union? To think that the establishment-managed agencies won’t do what they can to interfere and disrupt parties whose ambition is to sever connection with Westminster is extremely naïve!

The duration of the investigation of Peter Murrell being just one example. I don’t possess a crystal ball but my prediction, regarding the conclusion of Operation Branchform, will be about May 2026. Of course, the outgoing chief of Police Scotland “fiercely rejected” any suggestion that there have been any political implications. Yeah, right, Chief Constable! Strange, isn’t it, that more time has been spent on this investigation than that spent on the mysterious death of Willie McRae!

How, then, can Scotland free itself from Westminster exploitation? No good looking for unbiased reporting from TV, radio or the press. They’re all controlled by the British establishment – and, remember, Westminster politicians are under the sway of this same establishment, if not directly in its pocket!

My answer is a series of paid-for advertisements to be shown on TV and featured in the press to illustrate what Scotland could and should be. It will cost a lot of money to move the 50/50 independence/Union figures to a substantial pro-indy number that can be quoted in an international court but, surely, freedom is worth it. How about some crowdfunding for the Yes campaign?

Ned Larkin

Inverness

IT’S okay for Anas Sarwar to praise his boss in Westminster, who dished out in his speech on Tuesday more of his thoughts on the recent race-related rebellious troubles than he did on the economy. To suggest that his message to the English nation can be considered as “refreshing” is so vague as to be a non-committal statement.

To also suggest that the Westminster government is being “grown up” about the “situation” it is in, by his response to it, again is another vague description.

Anas Sarwar is a multi-millionaire, as is Keir Starmer. Both have no identification with the public who voted for the Labour government. This was a public that still has some past-tense relationship with what and who the Labour Party used to represent before Tony Blair ended that perception with his “New Labour Party”.

Keir Starmer is continuing the same but more right-wing than the previous Boris Johnson et al Tory Party government. He is so obvious in his protection of the super-rich, their tax perks and offshore accounts that he needs instead to attack pensioners, poor families and the working classes in general.

Now we are to suffer “short-term” pain in exchange for the “long-term good”, ostensibly for the next 10 years. Starmer is arrogant enough to think that his Labour Party will survive at least two terms of office by suggesting that his long-term gain will not be noticed until around 2034/35.

I’m not sure the rest of my life will last that long. However, I certainly hope so because what I, myself, would choose to see is my adopted country of Scotland become independent long before Starmer even survives one term in office.

Alan Magnus-Bennett

Fife

WITHOUT criticising any particular contributors to the Sunday National and The National, as that’s not my style, whether that be folk writing pieces for the papers or fellow independence supporters that get their letters published, I’ve definitely got to the point that I just need tae pit ma tuppence worth in!

I acknowledge that SNP governments over the years have certainly had their failings and could have done some stuff much better. Having said that, some of the barrage – as that’s what it feels like – of negativity towards the SNP’s record in power has, in my view, been unfair to say the least.

Take the much-maligned of late Nicola Sturgeon. Okay, I get the criticisms of her being a total control freak and not allowing any debate within the independence movement to influence her governments, etc – but hang on! Look back in history. Those political leaders that were accused of this also, like the dreaded Maggie Thatcher and Tony Blair, while being total anathema to my political views, knew that if they faffed about too much and were influenced by various dissenting voices, they would be toast! Nicola knew that and I don’t blame her!

It pains me that Nicola – widely respected throughout Europe and some parts of the world – gets so much shit from some here in her ain country within the independence movement, no less. Right now we are crying out for a leader that will, like Kamala Harris in the US, reach out to the Joe and Jeannie Publics that don’t read the Sunday National/The National, don’t go on independence marches and just aren’t that arsed with politics generally. Hang on! Who used to do that, in spades, back in the day in Scotland? Aye, the much-maligned Nicola Sturgeon!

Then there is the much-maligned Humza Yousaf. In my view, Humza didn’t stand a chance from day one. I’ve listened to loads of stuff he has said and the way he said it while first minister. However, given all the crap Humza had to endure from day one in his pretty short time in office, I have concluded that the same words and same manner delivered by a nice traditional ruddy white Scottish face would have received a far more positive reaction from many.

While I’m on one, I have to point out that the first Muslim leader of a European country, in Humza, had a very short tenure. The first black leader of a European country, in Vaughan Gething in Wales, had a much shorter tenure. Rishi Sunak, the first Asian man to become prime minister of the UK but hadn’t won an election, had earlier lost in the Tory election for leader to a total white balloon in Liz (“the lettuce”) Truss, thanks to the overwhelmingly white Tory members.

Aye, I ken that all three of these politicians had their faults, but were they given anywhere near the same leeway that, for example, the demonic white clown, Boris Johnson, got from the public and press? I seriously think not! They had to be, ironically, whiter than white! Any slip ups from them, unlike Johnson and those of his ilk, are pounced upon and brutally punished. Anyway, I have clearly gone off course here I feel, but it’s something I really had to get off my chest!

Returning to my original theme, for those detractors of the SNP and their leaders, I’ve got a wee bit of advice. Start yer ain political party, like Alex Salmond did with Alba, and see where it takes ye! Maybe try yer best tae become an SNP candidate at elections and change the party tae yer liking from within! Apart from doing that, I seriously dinnae get how yer carping is gonna achieve Scottish independence!

Ivor Telfer

Dalgety Bay

MUCH has rightly been made of Labour’s failure to intervene on the raising of the energy price cap and their decision to means test winter fuel payments to pensioners.

However, I distinctly remember a keynote conference speech, only a few years ago, by the then first minister Nicola Sturgeon in which she announced the intention to form a not-for-profit Scottish National Energy Company. The announcement was followed by a very long and enthusiastic standing ovation. The idea was dropped soon after.

I remember the speech very distinctly. I was standing in the aisle only a few metres from her as there was not an empty seat in the hall. Sadly, I do not think a lack of seating was a problem at this SNP conference. The days of packed halls are gone for the foreseeable future.

I understand the first two and a half hours of this week’s SNP conference were devoted to an “internal election review led by the party leader”. I had already been to one very sad event last week – the funeral of my friend and former SNP vice-convener Iain Lawson. I had no wish to pay £40 to attend another. Iain had written at length on his blog about the rather obvious reasons for July’s eventual electoral disaster. If the current First Minister needs a two-and-a-half-hour conference session to inform him of the reasons for the July election result, the SNP are probably well beyond help for the foreseeable future.

I also remember a more recent conference debate where it was agreed, by a large majority, that the magic word “independence” would appear on the Westminster election ballot papers. This decision was also completely ignored. I have written to the SNP National Secretary on two occasions to enquire as to who made that decision and why. I have not had the courtesy of a reply.

The recent council by-election in West Lothian saw a turnout of only 20%. The public are fed up with broken promises from all the political parties. The empty seats at this SNP conference should send a strong message to the party’s current leadership.

Brian Lawson

Paisley