A second independence vote is off the agenda for now, and Sturgeon knows it

Interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland, Michael Keating, professor of politics at Aberdeen University, made clear it is now logistically impossible to hold a second independence referendum in 2020.

Instead, the very earliest it could be held, if properly organised and allowing for a realistic campaigning period, would be in up to two years after the outcome of the 2021 Holyrood elections, so in 2022 or 2023.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is well aware of that reality but still inflicts her daily round of grievance-ridden demands upon the people of Scotland, apparently determined to not allow us any relief from the SNP’S narrow and divisive propaganda.

Acceptance that realistically any second independence referendum would need to be in two to three years’ time, would of course mean the SNP leadership facing up meanwhile to the inconvenient litany of shortcomings in Scotland’s pubic services.

Whether judged against the SNP’S own targets, or international comparisons, or indeed the simple day-to-day experience of those depending on services, the SNP has overseen a decline in standards and performance, along with a sequence of crises in showpiece hospitals and previously much heralded ferry projects.

Taking responsibility for sorting all of this out might not be as much fun for the SNP leadership or so readily allow them to play to the SNP faithful in the gallery, but it is what Scotland needs.

KEITH HOWELL West Linton, Peeblesshire

As we approach the New Year, five reasons why a further independence referendum should not be held in the near to medium future :

1) In 2014, it was agreed that the Scottish independence referendum was for a generation.

2) The SNP have a track record of refusing to accept the result of referendums (in 2014, Scotland voted to remain in the UK. In 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU. In 2014, the SNP could not have cared less about leaving the EU as a consequence of a ‘Yes’ vote but by 2016 it was the end of the world as we know it).

3) In the event of Scotland again voting against independence, it would simply lead to the SNP starting a campaign for Indyref3,

4) In its recent tenure in office, the SNP has achieved little in reducing Scotland’s reliance on the £13,000 million received from Westminster to balance the Scottish Budget.

5) We need more from an administration at Holyrood than declining educational standards, as evidenced by international comparisons, grievance politics and antienglish sentiments expressed by their more extreme supporters.

ANDREW WHITE Murieston Vale, Livingston