Poll position

Faced with a discouraging blip in the polls, and with the Unionist parties conspiring to smother a democratic referendum at birth, the SNP need only hammer home the following:

1. The Dutch and Luxembourgers regard their national identity (their "independence") as sacrosanct but have porous borders with other, bigger European neighbours and are modern, very prosperous, states.

2. The Icelandic and the Irish economies did not take a beating BECAUSE they are small independent nations but because their bankers and wheeler-dealers were as foolish and greedy as ours. Being proudly independent will help them recover from hard times.

3. The benefits of 300 years of Union are what exactly?

The umbilical link with England is well past its sell-by date. Let's move on. If it's properly communicated, I believe the Scots will understand that message and vote accordingly in Westminster, Holyrood and referendum polls.

DAVID ROCHE

Forest Way

Blairgowrie

Recent speculation by John Curtice and other commentators writing off hopes of SNP success in the coming general election (your report, 2 March) is premature. In 2005, the Nats won six seats with just 18 per cent of the popular vote and the latest opinion polls show them as being well above that level for Westminster. Political experts have, after all, been writing about the impending collapse of the SNP for much of its 76 year history, and still it survives.

PETE ELLIS

Station Road

Coupar Angus