The SNP does have a mandate

Sir, – Once again the usual naysayers take to your letters pages to convince readers that the Scottish Government has no mandate for a second independence referendum. This display of wishful thinking runs contrary to the facts.

In spite of the unionist parties and media conducting every election along narrow constitutional lines, we have an independence supporting majority at Holyrood and Westminster.

The last Scottish election had an SNP manifesto promise of holding a second independence referendum should Scotland be removed from the EU against our wishes.

This year’s general election was framed as a choice between union or independence. With all hands to the pumps, the unionist side encouraged supporters to drop party allegiances in order to stop the SNP.

In spite of this, the result was overwhelmingly proSNP. The mandate achieved is there for all to see, as is the democratic choice of the Scottish electorate.

The spurious argument that Theresa May, David Mundell and Ruth Davidson will deny Scots a say in their future only highlights their arrogant dismissal of Scottish sovereignty.

We are one part of a bipartite union, not a region, as others would have us believe. Nor are we, as Jeremy Corbyn states, one of England’s nations. Ken Clark. 335 King Street, Broughty Ferry.