Does referendum reticence hint Sturgeon won’t be First Minister much longer?

So, Ms Sturgeon says autumn 2018 is the “common sense time” for a new referendum while not, of course, giving a firm commitment to a date (Scotsman Online, 9 March), and Stewart Hosie says no decision has yet been made.

It’s almost as if Ms Sturgeon is seeking out a date for a new vote which she knows Theresa May will refuse. It is surely common knowledge by now that the last thing Ms Sturgeon wants anytime soon is another referendum, but being refused a new vote, of course, will gift Ms Sturgeon some more griev- ance that she can set aside for a future date.

With all important issues now being swept aside in the run-up to the local elections and Alex Salmond making noises about a possible return to being First Minister, a pattern is emerging that suggests Ms Sturgeon might not be holding onto power for too much longer.

MARK WARD Dalmellington Road Crookston, Glasgow

So Nicola Sturgeon tells us indyref2 in autumn 2018 “is right for the country”( Scotsman, 9 March). She’s wrong.

Skilful campaigner that she is, Ms Sturgeon believes this date is right for her – that she’ll be able to exploit all the Brexit unknowns, reinvent Project Fear and, in the spirit of the Leave campaign, wildly promise us a land of milk of honey.

Then if she loses, whoever replaces her will undoubtedly maintain, in late 2019 when we know what post-brexit Britain looks like, that the terms are unfair to Scotland and demand indyref3.

It is imperative Theresa May stands firm against Ms Sturgeon’s tactical games and refuses a referendum next year. Autumn 2018 maybe right for the nationalist leader and her separatist cause; it’s not right for Scotland.

MARTIN REDFERN Royal Circus, Edinburgh

Since the October 2015 conference the SNP has only delivered grievance politics and bad news on the economy, education, health care and petty scandals.

While UK industries and regions camp in Whitehall lobbying for a slice of the post-brexit cake her impossible posturing puts us at the back of the queue, relying on the goodwill and good sense of her hated Tories.

Nicola Sturgeon has been silent for five weeks, apart from some angry, insulting performances at FMQS and a “fake news” claim of post-brexit loss of devolution powers, and now her “judge me on this” education reforms and Named person mess have been kicked into the long grass.

This can’t go on till 2021. Her conference speech next week will probably be a giant Mrs Tilly’s indyref2 fudge, and her her MSPS and their Green cousins will prop her one vote majority up with astounding self-interest, lack of brains and backbone.

The May council elections will be a massive national opinion poll telling her we’ve had enough and encouraging the opposition to do their duty and force a vote of No Confidence.

All we need is one SNP or Green MSP with a conscience. ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven