Your leader should be required reading for all patriotic Scots (The local elections and the canary in the coal mine, Editorial, May 7). The Tories are indeed toxic, and their impending landslide in Greater England (which now includes swathes of the Borders and north-east Scotland) will prove – ironically – to spell the end of the Union, at last.
David Cameron's unnecessary referendum and Theresa May's bungling of Brexit is leading the "United" Kingdom into petty chauvinism and economic disaster. Trump's USA and the bits of the old Empire with a Union flag still incorporated into theirs will not ride to Britain's rescue for old times sake.
The SNP will convincingly win the election in Scotland; with between 45 and 50 seats is my guess. Once the dust settles, and the full horror of the prospect of 20-plus years of Anglo-centric rule (who imagines that a Tory Westminster will look kindly on an "ungrateful" Scotland's needs?) sinks in, I believe a great number of Scots will realise there is no alternative to independence.
If Theresa May – or her successor, after the men in grey suits call – refuses to "grant" a constitutionally binding referendum, then the Scottish Government should press on with a consultative one. If the great opportunities and benefits of running our own country are clearly explained, even the "black-tops" of the cruder "red-tops" and media will surely not prevent the Scots, this time, from choosing the road less travelled.
David Roche
Perth
Labour won 32 council seats in Glasgow against the SNP's 39, yet Paul Hutcheon pronounced the party "dead on arrival" (Here's how Labour lost control of Glasgow, The battle for Scotland, May 7).
Yes, the SNP won the election, but they did not destroy the Labour Party in Scotland as many of their supporters promised to do, encouraged by the rhetoric (uncritically reported) of their leaders. Their efforts did however drive some supporters of the Union into the arms of the Conservative Party, all set to boost the fortunes of the appalling Theresa May. Well done Nicola!
Alison Gray
Glasgow
In claiming that the case for a second Scottish referendum is "sunk", the Scottish Conservatives appear to be indulging in some wishful thinking. The Tories obsessed about the constitution all through the local government election campaign but the indisputable fact is that the SNP won the election, gaining more votes and more seats than any other party, which confirms that the case for a second independence referendum remains buoyant.
Ruth Marr
Stirling
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