It is unsurprising David Torrance should express a negative view of events at the Hydro on Saturday ("Tribal struggles return on view of the Promised Land", The Herald, November 24), or that he should seek to present a distempered view of the First Minister's speech - particularly that the Radical Independence movement were regarded as mere "foot soldiers" for the referendum - and now "just a nuisance".

This seriously misrepresents the First Minister, and culpably misunderstands what is happening in our country - and what happened on the day. With my wife (a new member of the SNP), I (a member of 25 years) attended both events, as did a sizeable number of others. As socialists, we felt completely at home at both celebrations; wonderful, but quite different events. Contrary, to David Torrance's interpretation, no-one at either event had much to say that was derogatory to any but the Unionist party leaderships - the corpse of the Labour Party being an object of particular contempt - though pointedly not those fellow citizens who had voted No. Both events were positive, life-enhancing celebrations of the new democratic spirit abroad in Scotland following the referendum campaign, with young people particularly impressive, and present in large numbers.

Nicola Sturgeon went out of her way several times to state that she would work on behalf of all Scots - not just SNP supporters and those who voted Yes.

Our First Minster understands something David Torrance does not: that an independent Scotland will require to convince people across the political spectrum that independence is right for all of us: the National party's historic role. And I understand something else; that this is a necessary - if not sufficient - provisional stage along the road to an independent, democratic, green, socialist republic of Scotland. Many with a range of different dreams can unite on that first step. It is the Unionists who are increasingly out of step.

Dr John O'Dowd,

3 Downfield Gardens, Bothwell.

The Radical Independence Conference on Saturday in Glasgow brought together 3,000 people of all ages, backgrounds and from a number of political parties and none. It reflected an extraordinary degree of co-operation and respect, extending that remarkable confluence seen in the different elements of the recent Yes campaign during the referendum. What was clear was that the spirit of that time has increased rather than diminished.

Main speakers from every pro-independence party acknowledged their differences but called upon the conference to hold them to account over ensuring a different kind of politics in a future Scotland. The rejection of austerity cuts that penalised the most vulnerable but enriched the wealthy, of competing tough policies to deny immigration and of replacing Trident were taken as read. But through organisations such as Commonweal there was a determination to keep the level of public engagement alive on how our nation could be a more just, equal, open and peaceful one.

The vision of Keir Hardie and other giants of democratic socialism was drawn upon. It was a pity that no representative of the party which he founded and which used to believe in democratic socialism could have been present. It was a pity also that there were few from the churches in Scotland, almost all of which are committed to reject the nuclear weapons that are part of the policy of all three (or perhaps now four) Unionist parties in Scotland. The brilliant speeches from two teenagers on the platform was one to give us older folk a great deal of encouragement. I am sure many such as ourselves who share a commitment to socialism from a Christian perspective found the RIC Conference a spiritual experience in addition to a radical call to keep up the momentum of these past few months.

Rev Dr Iain Whyte,

Rev Isabel Whyte,

14 Carlingnose Point,

North Queensferry.

Just in case Nicola Sturgeon doesn't get round to replying to the emails from your correspondent Lex Muir (Letters, November 22), may I offer my suggestion as to an appropriate response?

"Dear Mr Muir, I am sorry not to have replied to your emails. I have had a few other things on my mind during the past month. But for your constructive timely, insightful and, above all, constructive advice, I would have completely misunderstood the role of First Minister and, in that office, I would mistakenly have represented only those of the Scottish people who agree with my views on independence. If you have any other wise words to guide me during my period of office, I will be indebted to you."

Iain Stuart,

34 Oakbank Crescent, Perth.

Despite the First Minister's pledge to "govern for the whole of Scotland" (The Herald, November 20), Lex Muir remains peeved because Ms Sturgeon has not repeated this pledge to him personally in response to his emails. This is hardly surprising since these emails also expect the new First Minister to extol the "wonderful institution that is the United Kingdom". Might I suggest Mr Muir re-addresses his communications to David Cameron, and lets Herald readers know when he receives the pledge, private, or public?

Graeme Forbes,

12 Longformacus Road, Edinburgh.