Greens’ focus

Am I alone in finding it grotesque that the Scottish Green Party, by its fervent support for Scottish independence, has allowed itself to become so subservient to the interests of the SNP?

It seems to me extraordinary that an environmental party, dedicated in theory to working on an international scale to save the life-systems of the entire planet, should commit itself so enthusiastically to the cause of nationalism and separatism.

Extraordinary or not, the result is that someone like me, who believes that the separation of Scotland from the rest of the UK would be a pernicious severing of innumerable ties of heritage and kinship, can never vote for the Scottish Green Party. This despite the fact that I am very much in favour of many of their environmental policies, and in other circumstances would be happy to give them my vote.

But if I vote for the Scottish Greens in the May elections, it will have only one consequence – it will be said I voted to contribute to Alex Salmond’s supermajority in the Scottish Parliament of nationalist parties, and this means that I want another referendum on independence. So as a personconcernedaboutgreen issues I am effectively disenfranchised.

Idon’tknowwhetherthiswill bother the Scottish Greens, as most of the time I ever see any coverage of them in the news, it is in connection with their support for independence or the SNP. I seldom hear about any statement or initiative from them on environmental matters.

TOM JOHNSTONE Station Road, Roslin