Empty rhetoric

Anthony Berend (Letters, 1 November) is really clutching at straws when he claims that a mere figure of speech such as “once in a generation” should prevent a second referendum on Scotland’s future.

Jeremy Corbyn claims this is a “once in a generation” general election, the Lib Dem Nick Clegg claimed that the 2016 EU referendum was “a once in a generation event” and the Tory government has proposed that Northern Ireland voters should have the opportunity to determine their constitutional future every four years.

The false promises made by the No side in 2014 included Ruth Davidson saying the only way to guarantee EU membership was to vote No, Gordon Brown promising that a No vote would mean a nearfederal Scotland when powers have been removed from our Scottish Parliament and Boris Johnson has even threatened to take control of Scotland’s NHS despite it performing much better than in Wales under Labour or the Tory runnhs in England, which is facing increased privatisation.

Apart from the SNP holding a triple electoral mandate for a second referendum, we should remember that Scotland rarely gets the government most of us vote for in any UK general election and normal

rules don’t apply when the SNP become the third largest grouping at Westminster, as evidenced by TV companies failing to give the SNP their proper status in Uk-wide news coverage or on “national” political shows or debates.

FRASER GRANT Warrender Park Road, Edinburgh

Your article of 30 October (“General Election 2019: Second indyref vote at heart of Snpcampaign”)gavemecause for concern. It reports that the First Minister announced that “if the SNP won in Scotland in the December election, it would be an ’unequivocal and irresistible demand’ for a second independence vote”.

This is bad news for those of us who might have considered voting for the SNP, not to express support for Indyref2, but to reject what is happening to our country’s democracy in the hands of the Brexiteers under Boris Johnson.

I suggest that it is a serious tactical mistake on the part of the SNP, probably passing a significant advantage to the Conservatives,whichisthelast thing we need. It would appear that Nicola Sturgeon has succumbed to the demands of flag-waving nationalists who march instead of providing answers to those of us who are currently sitting on the fence with regards to independence: answers to questions about the financial and economic strength of a newly independent Scotland following the exit of the UK from the EU.

JOHN MILNE Ardgowan Drive, Uddingston

The Scottish electorate might like to remember that in August 2015 the First Minister said: “Let me be clear, I want to be judged on this” [“this” being Education]. If you are not, as First Minister, prepared to put your neck on the line on the education of our young people then what are you prepared to?it really matters”.

Clearly the First Minister wishes to sweep this statement

under the carpet in her attempt now to make this coming election solely about another divisive independence referendum.

This is her shameful attempt to deflect interrogation away from her and her government’s failures, not just the

destruction of a world leading and highly regarded education system but away from the appalling, time-wasting Named Persons Scheme, the failing NHS and its underfunding, the shambles around the revamped Police Scotland, the tax for at-work car parkpriate

ing and the highest tax rates in the UK. Additionally, we are still to hear as to why she used a personal email address for Government business.

If she is not judged on education then please pick from the list of above. However, in totality, this SNP government can only be described as inept, incompetent and incapable and I hope the electorate will judge it as not fit for purpose.

RICHARD ALLISON Braehead Loan, Edinburgh