Independence movement paying price of ‘Brexit bounce’ that hasn’t happened

Nicola Sturgeon has ruled the Scottish National Party with an iron grip. No dissent was allowed. It now seems her deputy, Keith Brown, has broken the mould.

2019 has been a bad year for the SNP. Nothing has gone right. There has been increased personal taxation, tourist taxation and workplace parking taxation problems to contend with.

The independence movement is visibly split and the illthought-out ideas on a Scot- tish currency are being taken to task. Ms Sturgeon is losing control.

The mistake being made is in seeking independence when most Scots do not want this.

All the efforts put into this theme take away from the real job in hand on education and health.

Relying on a “Brexit bounce” has not happened. The SNP is now paying the price.

(DR) GERALD EDWARDS

Broom Road, Glasgow With Nicola Sturgeon still not prepared to clarify where she stands on a second independence referendum, it is not surprising that various people on her side of the argument, up to and including her deputy, will try to fill the vacuum and keep the SNP’S core support happy (“Sturgeon pulls up deputy over ‘illegal’ vote’,”8 March).

The point is that Keith Brown, like everyone else in Scotland, is not at all sure what Nicola Sturgeon is planning to say, whatever the eventual outcome on Brexit. As a result speculation might be quite a long way off the mark, but by keeping all the options on the table Nicola Sturgeon knowingly keeps the pot stirring.

This is also not helped by the suspicion that previous assurances from the First Minister that there would not be another referendum unless there was sustained and clear support for independence by the people of Scotland might now be worthless.

At the time polling experts suggested that should mean a six-month period of polls showing support for independence at 60 per cent.

Nicola Sturgeon did not deny that interpretation, but with the passage of time seems to have decided to forget such thoughts, no matter how much the majority in Scotland might like to hear her renew this commitment.

KEITH HOWELL

West Linton, Peeblesshire

On Tuesday we were told by the SNP that they would hold an unofficial independence referendum, without a Section 30 order.

On Thursday, the SNP ruled this out, explicitly stating that Indyref2 can only be held with Downing Street’s agreement.

Are the SNP stringing along their most loyal supporters? It certainly seems the SNP establishment is playing them for fools.

MARTIN REDFERN

Woodcroft Road, Edinburgh