CLEARLY it is important, as more people start to contemplate the possibility of Scotland becoming an independent country, that the views of as many as possible are sought and hopefully accommodated within that overall vision of the country we would all wish to live in.

However, we all have to recognise and accept that it is impossible for everyone to get everything they want – there just has to be some flexibility within the demands and expectations.

Since the Second World War, Scotland has adopted a clear left of centre position and the needs of that "broad church" require to be both addressed and incorporated within that overall vision. Given that historical record, it is almost inevitable that such a stance would be classified as a left of centre position.

I see such a position as being most accommodating and would certainly prefer that as opposed to the wishes of the hard left or what could be inflicted upon Scotland by the current right-wing government in London – under Boris Johnson or whoever replaces him.

Scotland is indeed at a crossroads and Kenny MacAskill’s call for all political leaders to get together and address the needs of Scotland is indeed timeous and a positive proposal ("Kenny Macaskill urges parties to exploit anti-Tory ‘anger’ in Scotland", The Herald, January 2).

But I fear there are some, for example Jim Sillars, who are fighting old battles and doing exactly what he claims is being done by the First Minister – namely playing to the gallery, but surely this is what all politicians do?

Alan McKinney, Edinburgh EH16.

KENNY MacAskill is absolutely right to suggest there will be no indyref2 in 2020. Unfortunately, he did not go far enough. There is no reason to have a second independence referendum anytime in the foreseeable future. "Building on anger" against the Tories, as Mr MacAskill suggests instead, is unbecoming of any politician. The challenge for the Scottish National Party is that this stoking up of anger is really the only weapon in its arsenal as even a cursory examination dictates the SNP do not have the appropriate answers to the problems facing independence for Scotland.

The sensible way forward is to give Boris Johnson some time and space to see how he handles Brexit and domestic issues too, but this requires diplomacy on the part of the SNP. The SNP has launched its attack on Mr Johnson from day one, suggesting that it wants to turn him into a " bogeyman" no matter what he does. This is the politics of desperation on the part of the SNP that simply does not know how to proceed having boxed itself into a quest for independence it simply cannot achieve but whose core supporters will not forgive if it doesn't. The SNP is facing implosion.

Dr Gerald Edwards, Glasgow G77.

YOU would be hard pressed to get a cigarette paper between Kevin McKenna's views on what socialism should entail (the nationalisation of every means of production, expropriation of property, show trials etc) and the proposals set out in the Communist Manifesto ("I salute Rees-Mogg for his heartfelt Christian message of goodwill to all", The Herald, December 28). I wonder if in a future article he could indicate where his unicorn programme has been introduced and successfully implemented?

Alan Ramage, Edinburgh EH10.

AS a Brexit supporter I had to vote for Boris Johnson to be our Prime Minister, although being an ex-miner it was very hard. Having said that, he is head and shoulders above all our other politicians with his strong personality.

The SNP has had no real opposition for many years now, and I am now looking forward to Mr Johnson facing up to Ian Blackford SNP in the House of Commons, who will soon realise he is not facing Theresa May and that every time he brings up the subject of independence, it will give the Prime Minister the opportunity to highlight the SNP's poor record on health, education and the like.

John Connor, Dunfermline.

BORIS Johnson's continuing analogy of the "oven ready" Brexit deal now informs us that "the plastic covering is pierced and it is placed in the microwave" ("Johnson: 2020 can be start of ‘remarkable decade’ for UK", The Herald, January 1). Sounds as if we are in for a TV dinner, rather than a gastronomic experience, post-Brexit.

David G Will, Milngavie.