Abusive activists
Regrettably it is no surprise to hear of SNP activists caught again hurling abuse at those canvassing with general election material for the Scottish Conservatives in Cowie, Stirlingshire (“Police inquiry after SNP activist ‘abuses Tory campaigners’’’, The Scotsman, 27 May).
Intimidation on the streets as well as the internet has been a regular tactic of SNP supporters from the 2014 independence referendum campaign onwards, directed at anyone trying to campaign for anyone other than the SNP.
Even simple leafleting can trigger angry tirades from SNP supporters, chasing people down the street after leaflets have been put through their door.
Instead of putting a leaflet in the bin if they do not want to read it, there are a minority who want to challenge the very right of other campaigners to be on the streets.
The tendency to want to silence those who do not agree with their views runs from the top, of course, with senior SNP figures complaining about reporters who take too critical a line in their analysis, and even the First Minister regularly talking over her opponents as a debate tactic in order to disrupt and drown out criticism. KEITH HOWELL West Linton, Peeblesshire Nicola Sturgeon told us in The Scotsman last week regarding terror attacks: “This is a very anxious time but there is no need to be alarmed.”
She says this knowing full well that the strength of the UK police forces, the UK armed forces and the various UK intelligence departments are there to back up her words. And yet she wants Scotland out of the UK!
As they say, Nicola, “Better Together.”
D. MASON Pomathorn Road, Penicuik The SNP are due to publish their election manifesto and its main thrust is to spend, spend, spend to counter Tory austerity, but where exactly is the money to come from ?
It seems that the SNP are very generous with taxpayers’ money but not so good in generating income as Scottish businesses and the economy are at a low ebb, which means that Scottish taxation will inevitably have to rise even further under their plans. DENNIS FORBES GRATTAN Mugiemoss Road, Bucksburn