DR GERALD Edwards (Letters, June 26) seldom has anything positive or constructive to say about the Scottish Government such as the much-needed improvements to the infrastructure it has commissioned. In addition it has found the money for the splendid baby box scheme.

I hope Dr Edwards has read the tributes that have been made to the SNP’s erstwhile leader, Gordon Wilson (“Wilson, leader who steered SNP through turbulent years, dies at 79” and Obituary, The Herald, June 26).

The goal of independence has grown from tiny beginnings to command the heights of Scottish politics.

On the way there have been surges and setbacks but the goal has remained, unwavering in the hearts of SNP members and supporters.

The sensation caused by Winnie Ewing’s by-election victory in Hamilton in 1967 was followed by the loss of her seat soon after. But then along came Margo McDonald and soon the the trickle of SNP wins led to a flood in 2014.

If Dr Edwards or any foe of the independence movement thinks Nicola Sturgeon or any of her followers are about to fold their tents and steal away in the face of a general election result that left the SNP with more MPs and more votes than the other parties added together, they will find it is all an illusion.

Gordon Wilson, sadly, did not live to see independence as many others before have failed to do.

At my age, I have to face the fact that it’s more than likely I will not see it either but I firmly believe the tide of history is with us and that our ancient nation will one day be free of this baleful Union.

David C Purdie,

12 Mayburn Vale,

Loanhead,

Midlothian.

IT is with tremendous sadness that Scotland has lost the SNP leader who took the party through its turbulent years.

I worked with Gordon Wilson for many years as SNP group leader in Dundee and perhaps the following song written locally by a folk band for his 1979 general election puts it better than I can:

I’m gonnae vote for Gordon Wilson

I’m gonnae vote for the SNP

Im going to vote for Gordon Wilson

That hard workin’ MP fae Dundee

For sheer old fashioned honest endeavour

He’s the man for you and me

His priorities are the people of Scotland

That’s why I vote for the SNP.

He was hard working,for the people and the priority was always the country he loved and for which he kept the beacon burning.

David Coutts,

7 Drylaw Avenue,

Edinburgh.

GORDON Wilson was the SNP Member of Parliament for Dundee East from 1974 to 1987 (“Independence movement owes Gordon an un-payable debt of gratitude”, The Herald, June 26).

He commanded the respect – and the votes – of a relentlessly-conservative Broughty Ferry where I was parish minister.

He was a man of indisputable charm who gave respectability to a party which, after the Second World War, struggled to shake off its association with the nationalist parties of Europe in the 1930s.

The Scottish National Party is much in his debt.

It was his honesty, integrity and common sense as much as his political skills that took the party from the lunatic fringe into the mainstream.

Rev Dr John Cameron,

10 Howard Place,

St Andrews.