Equality, justice and mutual respect are integral aspects of our future

I AM extremely impressed at how well our First Minister is carrying herself and our country on the international and national stage and especially, at these very turbulent and uncertain times; it is comforting to know we have a steady hand on the tiller.

This letter, however, is to query in which direction we are headed.

My main concern here is that while we (the SNP Government and party members) have our attention firmly fixed to what is going on “out there” on a daily basis, there is a tendency to overlook that which requires attention right on our own doorstep, and is required urgently as it is very much overdue and indeed excessively so.

The plight of the members branches in still being suspended from meetings is now beyond any reasonable explanation or excuse.

The membership fees continue to be applicable, help and support are still being sought and given to those in charge for their political aims, the addressing of issues of injustice and abuse towards members delayed and a plethora of requests, letters, emails, texts and all sorts of communication from the ordinary members all ignored.

We in the Coatbridge and Chryston branch are entitled to query what kind of way is this to treat the very group that has been fully supportive of the SNP in its aims to stand up for equality and justice in an area where corruption has been seen as endemic within our local politics?

To a man/woman we have only ever been members of the SNP and no other party to date. All are firm believers in independence and in the cause of campaigning for the people of Coatbridge and Chryston to be the best they can be, for the SNP to be the conductor in all of this change and for equality, justice and mutual respect to be integral in this movement.

Sadly these three attributes are very much missing at the time of writing. David Nicholson, SNP member, Coatbridge and Chryston branch, 163 Earlston Crescent, Carnbroe, Coatbridge.