Sir, – Conference season is almost over and this Sunday sees the start of the SNP gathering.
What I would like to hear from Nicola Sturgeon is an unambiguous guarantee that the people of Scotland will be given a voice at the end of the negotiations for leaving the European Union.
As things stand it looks as if there will be no coming together of minds between EU and UK ministers, we will simply be kicked out in 2019.
What happens next is unclear and, at this point, Scotland’s voice must be heard in a referendum.
Nicola Sturgeon has proved herself to be a capable company director and her administration of the Scottish Government is commendable.
Alas Nicola is no Alex Salmond.
Oor Eck did his apprenticeship in the bruising cockpit of Westminster.
He knew how to fight by their rules and was not afraid to take them on.
Nicola is a different kind of politician; she believes much more in compromise and because of that sometimes comes across as indecisive.
If the SNP at their conference this week do not come out in favour of a referendum on independence at the end of the negotiation period then the SNP members will march off in droves and the SNP will rank somewhere between the Liberal Democrats and the Spotted Owl Society.
The message must be: “A vote for the SNP is a vote for independence, are you for us or against us?”
There can be no ifs, no buts.
Walter Hamilton.
Flat 3 City Park,
St Andrews.
Conference will duck big issues
Sir, – The SNP’s conference will discuss such burning topical issues as under 18s serving in the military, how the Queen is funded and a ban on nuclear weapons.
As it happens, under 18s do not feature in front line service anyway.
There will be no discussion of separation from the UK or the timing of another referendum, the subject dearest to the hearts of SNP supporters.
Nor will there be discussion of the Scottish economy, whose growth has now shrunk to 0.1%, nor of complaints in the Scottish NHS which were this week reported to have risen.
Nor will the crisis in Scottish education, which the SNP Government is doing its best to disguise, be discussed.
These are no-go areas for the rank and file.
No doubt this agenda will be adhered to, because of the iron discipline exerted by the leadership.
Still, it will be interesting to see whether recent setbacks for the SNP will find an airing during the ‘debates’.
I rather doubt it.
Jill Stephenson.
Glenlockhart Valley,
Edinburgh.
Gathering was a complete fiasco
Sir,- The fiasco of the Prime Minister’s speech at the Conservative Party conference which featured coughing and spluttering, a prankster with a P45 and even letters falling off in the background pretty much sums up the last seven years of Conservative rule.
They are woeful, and they are utterly incompetent.
Indeed, they would probably struggle to organise a funeral in a graveyard.
And yet, on a daily basis, the usual naysayers on this letters page see fit to question the basic competence of the SNP Government in Edinburgh.
How anybody could question Scotland’s right to rule itself after witnessing that debacle of a Conservative conference is beyond me.
RMF Brown.
Hill Terrace,
Markinch.
No more than a witch-hunt
Sir, – Wiltshire Police spent £1.5 million investigating sex allegations against Ted Heath of which £14,000 was used on PR to defend Chief Constable Mike Veale’s ‘reputation’.
Criminologist Dr Richard Hoskins, called in by the force to review their inquiry, condemned it out of hand saying ‘there’s not a shred of credible evidence against Sir Edward’.
Operation Conifer’s 24-strong investigative team listened to every complainer, even those with clear mental health issues, but failed to interview officials who worked with Heath.
The report of this latest episode in the Great Celebrity Witch-hunt contains nothing but innuendo.
Rev Dr John Cameron.
10 Howard Place,
St Andrews.
Trump must take action
Sir, – President Trump said the Las Vegas killer was one sick demented individual and yet he was allowed to collect 42 guns including assault sub-machine guns.
It’s high time he was trying to do something about stopping that instead of supporting the gun lobby which seems to have a stronger voice than the voice of common sense.
The right to bear arms to defend yourself has nothing to do with walking around with assault guns which can be used to attack innocent people who wish you no harm.
Alister Rankin.
93 Whyterose Terrace,
Methil.
Fracking a genuine issue
Sir, – I noticed a couple of letters berating the Scottish Government for the decision to ban fracking in Scotland.
I also noted the addresses of the two correspondents, one in leafy Morningside, the other in lovely Gifford – neither location likely to have their environment ruined, and house prices decimated.
Les Mackay.
5 Carmichael Gardens,
Dundee.
