Sturgeon’s legislative programme won’t restore mass popularity of nationalism

Nicola Sturgeon is going to try to relaunch her party with an emphasis on the day job she forgot about in her headlong rush to hold a second referendum earlier this year. Alas, it will not succeed.

The effects of ten years of SNP misrule are plain for all to see. No amount of jiggery-pokery will change that. Plunging educational standards, vanishing GPS and a concerted attempt to ambush the UK Government’s introduction of EU law to pave the way for Brexit show people what the SNP are really about.

Time is running out for the SNP. By the time there is another Scottish election, they will be clawing for a toehold in a small number of Scottish seats, along with Corbynite Labour politicians. Brexit will spell the end of the separatist dream which was built upon the sand foundations of the EU. As we face the new chal- lenges of independence from the EU, it will be clear that we will only succeed together. Indeed, Ireland should join the UK in this new venture and break free of the gilded cage of EU membership.

ANDREW HN GRAY Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh The Lady’s not quite ready for turning. No, not Margaret Thatcher, Nicola Sturgeon. The fact that she only mentioned the “independence” word once shows her desire to be independent has not gone away – she was trying to dilute its importance yet keep her core supporters happy. It will not work. Her speech in Holyrood has just emphasised the gulf between her grandiose promises for Scots and her dependence on English taxpayers to pay for them. Is independence about to be seen as the ultimate folly even by the SNP hierarchy? They may have to do a U-turn after all, and in an electric vehicle that is rapidly running out of power and with nowhere to recharge it. (DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow So, in presenting her legislative programme, Nicola Sturgeon seemingly eases her foot off the indyref2 pedal. Really? There can be few across the UK who don’t realise separating Scotland from the rest of the UK is the SNP’S raison d’etre. Their constitution makes clear nationalism, above all else, drives the party.

So why isn’t Ms Sturgeon relentlessly pursuing independence with passion and vigour, as per usual?

The SNP’S UK break-up monomania has led to the day job being largely neglected for ten years. And the general election showed that, despite Ms Sturgeon’s massively effective PR machine, the vast majority realise the SNP is failing us all, and in particular the more vulnerable in our society.

Her worst nightmare right now is that her lacklustre performance as MD of Scotland’s public services means the nationalists will perform as badly or worse at the 2021 Holyrood election as they did in June’s Westminster vote. Without a nationalist majority Ms Sturgeon doesn’t get what she desires most: indyref2, another shot at separating us from the rest of the UK.

Her solution? With a resurgent Labour threatening the SNP heartlands of the west Central Belt, she wraps herself in Labour’s clothing and shifts to the left. By doing so, she believes she’ll reinforce her chances of winning a majority in 2021 and thus can stage another referendum.

MARTIN REDFERN Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh It was not surprising to hear the attacks from opposition parties to the Programme for Government delivered by the First Minister. It aims to limit the damage of Westminster austerity cuts and keep the infrastructure of the country running. To that end it announced that the cap on public sector pay would be lifted. Opposition parties, before going on the attack, should have taken the trouble to look at the facts and figures of the SNP in government.

Scotland currently has the highest employment in the UK coupled with the highest spend per head on health and the lowest crime figures. This situation has only come about because the SNP government has demonstrated a strong commitment to social justice and the day job.

It would have been refreshing if those opposition parties had taken the opportunity to present their vision and programme for government instead of merely criticising. CATRIONA C CLARK

Hawthorn Drive Banknock, Falkirk On Monday the First Minister welcomed the new Queensferry Crossing built at a cost of £1.35 billion. It more than doubles capacity by adding four motorway lanes and two hard shoulders to the existing four road lanes across the Forth. It is planned to last over 100 years.

On Tuesday she announced the phasing out of diesel and petrol-powered cars within 15 years despite other technologies not being anywhere near fully developed and not suitable for the distances involved on roads such as the A9 without lengthy recharging stops. Is this joined-up thinking?

BRUCE D SKIVINGTON Strath, Gairloch, Wester Ross