I AM bewildered and bemused (sometimes amused) at two subjects which consistently appear in your columns; the fact that Alex Salmond was a failure as leader of the SNP and the notion that the SNP should "accept" the result of the referen­dum (Letters, November 15).

Let me point out that I am neither the biggest fan of the former nor a member of the latter, merely an interested observer of the referendum and its fall-out.

First, to those who claim Alex Salmond was a failure as the leader of the SNP; I have a feeling that if Johann Lamont had enjoyed the same level of "failure" as Alex Salmond she would not have fallen on her sword.

Secondly, to those who say that the SNP should "accept" the result of the referendum; this is preposterous.

The SNP, like all democratic political parties, have accepted the result of the referendum. I see no calls to insurrection, fighting on the streets or violent uprising to overthrow the Westminster Govern­ment. They have "accepted" the referendum result.

But to say they should now pack up and go away? Ridiculous.

To those who say that, can I suggest that a clue as to why they should not and will not lies in their title?

Using this same logic would these pundits and correspondents suggest the Greens stop campaigning on an environmental ticket because they failed to get a majority at the last election? Should the Socialists stop campaigning for social equality because they faced electoral wipe out at the last Holyrood election? Would the Tories shut up shop if they failed to achieve a majority next year? Should the UK Labour Party have stopped campaigning for the working man because they did not see off the Tories in 2009 (well actually, they did, but that's a different story altogether)?

I would suggest that so long as the SNP exists they should be campaigning for independence. Many of us who thought that last September would be the only opportunity in their lifetime to achieve independence are energised by the prospect that another may present itself before too long - and the sooner the better.

And Alex Salmond, for all his faults, is the man who helped deliver that possibility. He brought us so close to independence and would have succeeded had the establish­ment parities not duped the Scottish people with their "vow" on further powers blurted out in panic by them immediately prior to September 18 and reneged on almost immediately on September 19.

So let's keep the argument going for the next referendum. My only hope is that next time we will see a bolder, more imaginative campaign involving a much higher profile alliance of pro-independence parties and not a campaign dominated by the SNP.

It would be good if that alliance were to form and start campaigning now.

William Thomson,

25 Lithgow Place,

Denny.

DURING my lifetime two politicians have set the Scottish political weather: Margaret Thatcher and Alex Salmond.

Scotland was virtually united against Mrs Thatcher. In contrast, Mr Salmond leaves office with Scotland bitterly divided.

Perhaps Mr Salmond should reflect during his no-doubt-brief sabbatical from front-line politics on the attributes of genuine states­­manship.

What good is an independent nation if it is not a united nation?

David Bryson,

31 Church Road,

Giffnock.