Sir, – I was watching a summary of the general election results and there was Fiona Hyslop of the SNP claiming that the SNP had a mandate for a second independence referendum because they had “won” the election in Scotland and it was in their manifesto.
In fact, the SNP got 37% of the Scottish vote.
I, and many of the 63% who voted for a candidates of another party, voted tactically.
We do not want a second independence referendum.
Why else would the Conservative share of the vote buck the UK trend and increase in Scotland?
We want good, fair, competent government that has as its priority the economy, our public services and our schools.
If parties that “win” elections with less than 50%, even less than 40%, of the popular vote continue to claim they have a mandate, the only option will be not to vote, as many do already.
David Trudgill.
The Steading,
Blairgowrie.
Clergy have let down church
Sir, – It is sad to think that I had believed for all 75 years of my life that clergy were my spiritual leaders.
I have to acknowledge now that they may be worldly leaders but they are far from spiritual leaders.
Had they read their Bible, Matthew 5: 17-18, they would realise they have just done what Christ said he was not here for. They have set themselves up with a claim that they are greater than Jesus.
The Bible is not against LGBT people. It is their sexual activity that is wrong and the Scottish Episcopal Church agreeing to sanctify their union shows it is in denial of this fact. If they were men of honour, they, the bishops and clergy, would resign on mass for leading their flocks astray.
Brian Rattray.
124/2 Gylemuir Road,
Corstorphine,
Edinburgh.
Misjudgment by Nicola Sturgeon
Sir, – Political success is about momentum. Following the general election, Labour and the Scottish Tories have it in spades and the SNP does not. So what does this now mean for Nicola Sturgeon?
Her fingers will be firmly crossed against the possibility of an autumn election.
Yes, the nationalist leader reminds us the SNP has a majority here but 10 SNP seats have a sub-1,000 majority.
An autumn election would most likely eradicate their Westminster Scottish majority.
With pro-UK parties taking 62.4% of the vote and over 50% in every Scottish constituency last week, it is evident Ms Sturgeon has badly miscalculated on two counts.
Her obsession with a second referendum on her timetable, not ours, has backfired. A sizeable minority apparently endorse her separatist dreams but that’s not enough.
Secondly, Ms Sturgeon must stop pretending she’s a world leader and focus on her domestic remit.
Education, the NHS and other public services may not be glamorous but they are crucial to everyday lives.
It is inevitable Ms Sturgeon will pay lip service over coming weeks to such errors of judgment, positioning herself as concerned to be a part of the UK Brexit process. But we know she has a vested interest in UK failure at the negotiating table.
So will any shift in direction be a smokescreen?
Let us never forget the SNP’s raison d’etre is, first and foremost, independence.
Ms Sturgeon will be keen to give the impression she’s easing her foot off the second referendum accelerator.
Only the naive will believe her.
Martin Redfern.
Merchiston Gardens,
Edinburgh.
Our young are politically aware
Sir, – The young, as stated by Mr Parkin (June 12) were anything but unaware of what party they were voting for. My teenage grandchildren are more than able to discuss politics, and come to their own decisions on which party to vote for.
I would also suggest, that the young and innocent that he labelled Labour voters, would most likely vote for the other parties as well.
Maybe the young see something with their voting intentions that Mr Parkin clearly can’t.
George Douglas.
Scotscraig Place,
Kirkcaldy.
Work together for Scotland
Sir, – Now that all the election shenanigans are over for now, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon should now show she is a leader and hold out an invitation to fellow party leaders Ruth Davidson, Kezia Dugdale, Willie Rennie and Patrick Harvie to a joint meeting at Bute House to discuss Brexit with the aim to come out with an agreed joint approach that the Scottish Government can then vote on and put forward as to what is the best outcome for Scotland.
The party leaders should sit down and jaw, jaw and do what is best for Scotland.
Dave Stewart.
5 Main Street,
Luthermuir.
Do not change Tory manifesto
Sir, – I hope Theresa May is not considering ditching or even changing the Tory manifesto to keep her party in power.
The people who voted for the Tories did so on the strength of these promises. To change the manifesto would be an act of treachery.
Alister Rankin.
93 Whyterose Terrace,
Methil.
A touch of irony from Germany
Sir, – In an allusion to Margaret Thatcher, the Iron Lady, the German magazine Spiegel had this headline: Die eiernde Lady. Eiern rhymes with iron, but means wobble. Who said Germans do not have a sense of humour?
John Edgar.
19 Gilmours Avenue,
Blackford.
Nationalism and patriotism
Sir, – Your correspondent David Hill of Argyll maintains the desire for independence has not subsided.
I think it is more correct to say that the desire for independence has not subsided on the part of dyed-in-the-wool Scottish nationalists who do not wish to consider the realities of the effects of the break-up of the United Kingdom.
For the more thoughtful of us in Scotland, we view such a possibility as a disaster scenario for our children and grandchildren and we have no desire for independence.
There is a profound difference between patriotism to Scotland, and nationalism in Scotland.
It is something that the SNP and its supporters have singularly failed to comprehend and differentiate.
Derek Farmer.
Knightsward Farm,
Anstruther.