Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP conference address pays selective attention to polls

It was interesting to note that in her SNP conference speech Nicola Sturgeon quoted from a recent poll showing the Tories were in third place in Scotland again.

She omitted to tell her rapt audience that the same poll recorded that support for independence was lower than in 2014 and, more significantly, that a huge majority of Scots are opposed to a second referendum in the next five years.

Did she miss that minor detail?

The troops were nevertheless rallied - if not by her - by the prospect of indyref2 in the next 1300 days or so. Again Ms Sturgeon has evidently been paying selective attention to the polls, particularly the one showing that they and the Greens would lose seats in a Scottish election and would be well short of an overall majority in favour of separation.

Since that would put paid to another referendum until at least 2026 - and probably for good - she has no option other than to push for one before 2021.

No doubt she is praying fervently that the Brexit negotiations will prove to be a disaster and that a subsequent call for a referendum - which she would be likely to lose - would be rejected by the UK government.

Being told you can’t have something can whet the appetite for it - even if it is something you don’t particularly want. That is a possible reading of events in Catalonia.

However, while rightly condemning Madrid for its shameful and ill-advised handling of the situation, the SNP has chosen to ignore other significant events following the illegal poll.

There has been no mention of the hundreds of thousands who took to the streets in support of continuing union, of the millions of Euros withdrawnfrom catalan and transferred to Spanish banks, of the notification by EU countries that an independent Catalonia would not be recognised, of the 20 or so companies who have already moved out of Catalonia or of the circle of entrepreneurs who informed Mr Puigdemont that a declaration of independence would be a “bomb” for the economy of Catalonia. Such outcomes will not have escaped the notice of observers in this country.

Ms Sturgeon finds herself in a cleft stick. Should it be now or later that she plumps for a losing option?

COLIN HAMILTON Braid Hills Avenue, Edinburgh

Over recent years, I did not think anything would shock me about the negativity and total arrogance of the SNP, I was wrong.

This week I have seen the SNP sink to new lows with the highly insulting, disrespectful, ignorant statement at the conference by Julie Hepburn who proposed abolishing the Sovereign Grant System, claiming it was a good rate of pay for charity work and it was like winning the lottery every single year for the Royal family.

How dare she comment so rudely on quite frankly an issue that has nothing to do with Scotland - this is Westminster Legislation.

The Royal Family is rich in history, dignity and courage and provides immeasurable benefits to the United Kingdom and is held in high regard by many people in Scotland.

The revenue the government makes from the Royal Family’s estate and business interests, not to mention tourism revenue, is far more than the Royal Family get in return.

This speech bordering on treason comes from a party who work in a building that cost ten times more than its estimate costs and its leader frequently travels the world on vanity jaunts at the expense of the taxpayer. GORDON KENNEDY Simpson Square

Perth