The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
SNP must be up front with their message
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.