Just ask Scots if indyref2 wanted

Sir, – Douglas Black’s riposte (Letters, October 21) to my earlier letter on the issue of indyref2 being used by the SNP on their forthcoming election manifesto was as anticipated from any SNP/ nationalist supporter.

Douglas wails hypocrisy and objects to my use of “cynical” to describe how the SNP are inserting indyref2 in their manifesto. I point out my use of the adjective conforms to its definition in both Oxford/ Cambridge dictionaries and neither was I “implying” anything in my letter. I stated my opinion clearly and made no reference to this cynicism being unique.

He further mistakenly questions my memory by defensively referencing a Boris Johnson “Get Brexit Done” general election soundbite (not in the manifesto, Douglas) and that it is an oft-repeated political practice. So does he therefore, by default, condone the SNP in following this derisory practice?

A more pertinent response to his ill-judged Brexit example is that like all nationalists using the undisputed no to Brexit majority in Scotland, they fail to comprehend their logic ultimately means they believe we in Scotland have a veto over the entire UK vote in any UK-wide sponsored referendum. Really?

He singularly fails to recognise my central point, that our opportunity to elect a devolved administration to govern appropriately in Scotland should not be hijacked by contrived constitutional issues which mute all other vitally important policy issues and debate.

If the Scottish public want indyref2, ask them directly. Nothing cynical or hypocritical in that.

Easy.

Alan Petrie, Provost Drive, Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire