Progress Scotland will be just one more SNP initiative that will come to nothing

Let me get this right? Angus Robertson has established Progress Scotland to rethink and reframe the case for independence?

In 2016, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a great “listening exercise”, the greatest conversation the SNP would ever have with the Scottish people – did that go ahead? I was desperate to have a conversation with the SNP so, if it did, what was the result?

The White Paper in 2014 was the blueprint for the future of a great independent Scotland. It was dumped, even SNP MP Mhairi Black “hated” it and told people to ignore it. Then we had The Growth Commission – the next blueprint for a successful independent Scotland – happily forcing decades of real austerity on its people for the benefit of a “free” Scotland. It is scarcely heard of now. We are told on a daily basis that the SNP is ready for separation, that support has never been higher and marches by saltire-clad dogs and seeyou Jimmy-wearing, emotionally driven, misguided nationalists seem to give some credence to the cause.

So, the latest SNP initiative to persuade those of us who believe Scotland’s future, the precious future of our children and grandchildren, is best placed within a strong United Kingdom, is Angus Robertson’s Progress Scotland.

If they are so convinced that victory is imminently within their grasp, why is it necessary to embark on this? Clearly, despite what the masses think, Angus Robertson and the SNP hierarchy are definitely not convinced and another divisive referendum is a very long way off – it’s time supporters listened and accepted this reality.

How different it could have been for Scotland. With devolution, we had the opportunity to create a great Scotland within a strong United Kingdom. The grievance-ridden SNP have embarked on a decade of complaint, criticism, resentment, whinge and bitterness against Westminster whilst damaging virtually every aspect of my country. Why? I believe it’s because of some emotional claptrap about Scotland’s culture being lost, about some inferiority complex and massive chip on each shoulder about being less important than our neighbours south of the Border and that we Scots are being oppressed. Nicola Sturgeon is on record stating that nothing is more important than independence and she has gone all the way to prove that.

So, Progress Scotland will come and go. true tos np form, we likely will never know the outcome. meanwhile, mr robertson, like many of the other failed SNP MPS and MSPS, will be on a tidy sinecure – here we go again.

DOUGLAS COWE Alexander Avenue

Kingseat Newmachar, Aberdeenshire