New zeal land?

I am impressed by the alacrity and zealotry with which Gill Turner leaps to the defence of the SNP government and Yes movement in the letter published on 1 August. I am moved to rebuttals on several points.

I doubt very much that large sections of floating or No voters will be persuaded to change by whatever numbers demonstrate, march and rally with the usurped Saltire and ranting slogans in what many perceive as intimidatory manoeuvring. While the broader Yes coalition has better campaigning structure, I have yet to believe that its politicking arguments have advanced beyond the hackneyed mantras trotted out in the years since 2014.

Extravagant promises, dubious statistics and outright mendacity were not confined to the No side of the “debate” and the fiscal follies and voodoo economics of Scotland’s Future will not be readily forgiven or forgotten. While the Wilson Commission report can and will be cited as a more honest and responsible approach, its forecasts of greater austerity in the aftermath of a lemming rush into independence will surely deter any but the unthinking and delusional from believing such a move would be preferable or sensible.

Certainly, the UK government has an ignominious record on the Brexit front, but I do not believe “the people of Scotland” as a whole

feel they have been treated with utter scorn and derision, however much the posturing SNP incessantly claims in its unrelenting pursuit of magnified grievance. While there is indeed incompetence displayed by Westminster, again only the most delusional of zealots would hold up Holyrood governance as a shining beacon of competence and perfection. I cannot agree that “we could hardly do worse”! RONALD JOHNSTON

St Ola, Orkney

Your letters correspondent, Gill Turner, has made a few unfortunate assumptions when stating No voters will rush to become Yessers next time round, if there is one.

The increase of support from 30 to 45 per cent was on the back of some wild claims from Alex Salmond and a, then, secure oil and gas industry.

The world has moved on from the 1970s-80s when Nicola Sturgeon became passionate about independence, but she has not. The record of the current Scottish National Party in office is not covered in glory, in fact it has failed to meet its own targets in many aspects of government.

For the population of Scotland to accept the ideas of the SNP and place their faith in it being for the best is just not backed up by secure evidence. Brexit has shown just how difficult major change is and how much division it has caused. The status quo will remain until the SNP prove themselves up to the job. Don’t hold your breath. GERALD EDWARDS Broom Road, Glasgow

According to the headline accompanying his letter on 31 July, Mark Openshaw believes “there’s no need for demonstrations and counter-demos in a mature democracy”.

Which “mature” democracy might he be referring to? It can’t possibly be the UK democracy against which one offence after another is committed in the name of Brexit. I surely do not need to list them. In a situation where our elected representatives

are proving themselves to be totally incapable of sorting out the Brexit debacle, the taking to the streets of a significant, and I hope increasing, number of peaceable citizens, as opposed to subjects, is a sign of, at the very least, a functioning democracy.

JOHN MILNE Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston

There have been several

recent letters from Remainers advocating a second referendum in order to prevent Brexit. If their desired result were to occur, surely there is some logic for Brexiteers to request a third referendum (and so on, ad infinitum!).

This shows the absurdity of the concept of a second referendum.

GORDON COCHRANE Dargai Terrace, Dunblane