DAVID Torrance (“Once momentum is lost, it’s fiendishly difficult to regain”, The Herald, June 12) accurately outlines the dilemma facing the SNP on how to keep independence supporters on board, whilst wooing those not yet convinced on independence and who appear not to want a second independence referendum anytime soon and certainly not until well after Brexit has settled down. This will not be an easy task alongside running a successful government, where failures will enable opposition attack but success does not necessarily enhance the case for independence, as competence is an expected outcome for the electorate from any government.
After losing the independence referendum in 2014, the subsequent tsunami of support for the SNP in the 2015 General Election skewed SNP thinking, even when it lost its majority in the Scottish Parliament elections of 2016, and failed to detect some warning signs that support for another independence referendum might be on the wane. Both Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond subsequently said they respected the 2014 vote and indeed, we heard much about speaking for the whole of Scotland.
Following the EU referendum and Brexit, I think many people were uncomfortable with the SNP stance that somehow Scotland had to be differentiated from the UK result. Scotland had chosen to remain part of the UK and consequently it was a whole UK decision by which Scotland had to abide. Certainly there was a material change of circumstance from that presented in the Scottish referendum about remaining in the EU but that argument does not hold water. Decisions are made in life based on the facts as presented and future events cannot alter that decision and calling for a second independence referendum on the back of Brexit was a mistake which has cost the SNP dearly.
The long-term game plan for the SNP is to build a proper case for independence; the vision, the benefits, the drawbacks and in the end, the result will not be based on economics because the driving force has to be self-determination. The people must want it and if so, there will be no problem in reaching a two-thirds majority.
Alan M Morris,
20 Kirkhouse Road, Blanefield, Glasgow.
TODAY seems to be all about taking a second referendum off the table (“Sturgeon talks of Brexit, but stays silent on independence”, The Herald, June 14). Might I remind everyone that this is not solely for Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP to decide? There was a chance for David Cameron to avoid this when he was asked to ensure that all parts of the UK produced a majority for Leave before going ahead with Brexit. He refused. Now, the opportunity has existed since before Christmas for Theresa May to take it off the table, simply by acknowledging the different needs of Scotland and discussing seriously the proposals in our Government’s document. That could still happen if she so chose. She still refuses.
And let us not forget that honouring fully all the promises of 2014 that achieved a No vote would have avoided the problem altogether. So who is to blame for this situation?
P Davidson,
Gartcows Road, Falkirk.
THE SNP spokesman was surely being economical with the truth when claiming the Scottish Cabinet had not considered the implications for a second independence referendum as a result of the general election result in Scotland.The First Minister needs to be reminded that burying your head in the sand is a most ungainly posture, whether for politicians or ostriches.
Keith Howell,
White Moss, West Linton.
COUNCILLOR Alasdair Rankin (Letters, June 14) makes a play of the challenges from Brexit being rather greater for the UK Conservatives than for the SNP. Inevitably the negotiations with the EU will be challenging, but the Conservative Government has the considerable benefit of setting about the task with the backing of a majority vote in an EU referendum. On the other hand, the SNP has no such foundation for the various positions it has adopted.
Lest Councillor Rankin respond that there was a majority for Remain in Scotland I need to underline that the UK remains, by virtue of the 2014 referendum, one nation. In addition many independence supporters at that referendum supported leaving the EU in the subsequent referendum. Councillor Rankin may be rather too complacent about the challenges facing the SNP on this issue.
Councillor Cameron Rose (Conservative),
City Chambers, Edinburgh.
RICHARD Mowbray (Letters, June 13) writes that Ruth Davidson triumphantly drove off the SNP last week. Only in his dreams. In 2015 the score was SNP 56, Tories 1. This time it was SNP 34, Tories 13. Not even a close-run thing.
Ian M Forrest,
Dalveen, Garvock Road, Laurencekirk.
I WAS in danger of slipping into a depression after the recent happenings around politics and football but The Herald’s wonderful cartoons have had me laughing out loud. Thank you, Steven Camley.
Mrs Kate Gordon,
3 Burnside Avenue, Brookfield, Johnstone.
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