The SNP continues to make the issue of Scottish independence a key plank of its General Election campaign – which prompted an excoriating piece from our Writer at Large, Neil Mackay.

Read his column here 👈

That piece drew a heart-felt response from one of our readers.

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Colin Montgomery of Edinburgh writes:

"Neil Mackay's 'j'accuse' moment re the disconnect between the SNP's rhetoric and the reality of modern Scotland is a welcome moment of candour. And I say that as a one-time Yes voter, totally scunnered with all politics now, both here in Scotland and in the UK. But I would question his conjuring analogy; after all, at least conjurors, when asking us to suspend disbelief, can delight, surprise and entertain in equal measure. Then the show is over. But this is no mere show. There's far more at stake.

We are dealing with everyday lives here. And to ask, sincerely and in good faith, how an independent Scotland would deal with challenging realities within this ugly world of compromises, cannot or should not be wheesht'd away by partisan assertions, airy projections and passionate identity politics. The hard truth of the matter is, there is no magic wand to fix the problems that blight economies, societies and nations the world over; easy answers wrapped in flags, of any colour, just won't cut it.

In that respect, while I still think it perfectly reasonable to believe in principle that Scottish sovereignty is blighted by a democratic deficit within the UK, and that a vote for independence is a remedy to that, to conflate such a vote with the magical summoning of a soi-disant 'progressive' Scotland cured of all its ills is, at best, disingenuous and, at worst, outright dishonesty. You need to level with people – with maturity, a listening ear, and an acceptance that your vision has downsides not all are willing to readily indulge.

So, sorry Mr Mackay, I regret to say that your conjuring analogy falls short. This is not the awe-inspiring work of a Blane or a Houdini. For me, this is more akin to Glasgow's now-infamous Willy Wonka experience: the promise of a world of wonder, but with the very real prospect of a thoroughly disenchanting denouement in reality. And no amount of 'believing in Scotland' can magic that all away."