That's because the SNP serve their masters in the European Union. They are out of touch because they can't see the lunacy of what they believe. They say that they want to be 'independent' but remain in the EU, where 80% of our laws are made.

Alex Salmond is a liar because he uses Norway and Switzerland as perfect examples of independent nations in Europe. What he fails to tell the SNP drones is that Norway and Switzerland aren't even members of the EU!!!

How can you trust anyone who supports the EU Nazi?

Vote UKIP for real independence.

All politicians are out of touch!

However, surely even the most anti scottish people can see that the SNP are the least out of touch.

For any party to think never mind state otherwise would be more likely to show they are even more out of touch possibly even show their prejudiceness are more important to them than their policies.

What an absolutely ridiculous article.

It's maybe true, however Tavish, sine the Libdums have never held power in Scotland, it is you that is out of touch more so.

Labour used to represent the common person, then obviousloy lost touch as well.

When you make silly statements like that, it doesn't hold favour with us. When other political parties constantly try get one over each other instead of actually getting some work done, we will not entertain you

I thought this headline was The Joke of the Day from the Scotsman stable. Then I realised it's supposedly a serious article.

Auch Tavish, wakey wakey. You've obviously been too involved in other matters to get a feel for the atmosphere in the country.

Libdems - Yesterdays people
Clearly out of touch with reality
and the reality is the Libdems are devoid of any substance and do nothing for Scotland
So really its the Libdems that are out of touch and as for Tavish Scott, he really is on another planet

Tavish was on the tele with an eagle. I thought it was his brother, they must have got their beaks from the same shop!

Could a Lib dem please enlighten me to the in touch policies they put in place whilst in government. Not watered down compromises like their pathetic comprmise on tuition fees. If freezing council tax and scrapping prescription charges is not in touch I don't know what is.If trying to make Scotlands kids eat a healthier diet and trying to reduce our youngsters intake of alchohol and cigarettes is not in touch what is?If putting more police on the beat and trying to reduce class sizes what is?the SNP are trying to change Scotland but with a minority Government and opposition parties set in their ways it ain't easy.

The Libs don't recognise touch until they get clob bered.

What a sad and pathetic bunch

1 Vote UKIP,

Every journey begins with a single step! Withdrawal from this accursed Union with Westminster is the first step in this Scottish journey. Until Scotland is independent they have no say in whether or not they wish to withdraw from the EU; that is a reserved matter.

With independence Scotland will be free to negotiate or re-negotiate term of entry into Europe. The Scottish people will then decide if these terms are acceptable; unlike England who will never have such an opportunity.

UKIP, despite your propaganda on this and other boards, is simply a host party for protest votes and has no possibility, now or in the foreseeable future, of becoming a Party of any significance. The EU will implode long before your party has more than a half dozen elected members.

Perhaps England’s greatest hope is if Scotland withdraws from Europe and is a success, the English may follow where Scotland leads!

"SNP is 'out of touch' with ordinary Scots"

Disproven by the SNPs polarity, as demonstrated by its lead in the polls.

The Liberal Democrats have shown time and again that they serve no useful purpose in Scotland since they are a bunch of people who recognise the failures of both Labour and Tory governments (Tweedledum and Tweedledee) but cannot recognise that the answer is stop them at Berwick upon Tweedle!

What point there is in opposing the two parties who were capable of winning, with one which is not serves ,is beyond any rational thinking(but Dunfermline West thought it was a good idea). What that's about I will never understand!

You could achieve exactly the same by staying at home and abstaining.
At least the people who do that I understand ,even if I do not agree with them.

I should have added: For those Scots who wish to express a desire for independence and out of Europe then they can always vote SEP for that is their stated policy

12

Whilst that is useful(at least for information purposes), and I acknowledge your best intention here(although I must confess that I will have to look up and see who/what exactly the SEP are),it is of course an expressed desire only, since Scotland cannot withdraw from Europe since she is part of the UK which is the member state.Whilst many European senior office bearers have given an assurance that all four UK member nations would almost certainly retain membership irrespective of UK domestic arrangements ( which they care sod all about,and have bigger fish to fry presumably), only then as an independent nation could Scotland withdraw (preferably after she had established that this was a majority held view in Scotland ,since to do so without the backing of the electorate would not be accepted by those who wished to retain membership).
Interesting to know this party exists,and there is no reason why some people should not vote for them one day,but to split the Nationalist vote, (which is all the SSP are Solidarity are doing although like all left wing groups they think they are actually achieving something), seems to be equivalent to arguing what colour the car should be, when we have to build one first,before we can paint it!
It expresses a view I agree ,but it has much more purpose when what they believe becomes possibility rather than desirability.
I desire independence but I recognise that Scots must unite under ONE banner or they defeat themselves.When we have independence then we can indeed decide what kind of independent country we will have (as decided through the ballot box ).

13 morris

It would greatly assist reading if you would split up you comment in to reasonable paragraphs. Large blocks of text, particularly on screen, can be difficult.

May I suggest you read my previous contribution at 9; my subsequent contribution was simply information added for completeness.

You need to be aware that there are many independence supporters who are unhappy with the policies of the SNP and will not vote for them. Many believe the SNP to be too left wing. The SEP is a right of centre Party, who I would expect to appeal to the more conservative leaning voter. This will give a natural home to those who are unhappy with the current Tory party allegiance to Westminster.

Incidentally “assurances by European senior office bearers”, will have absolutely no relevance in an independent Scotland. You need to remember that for Scotland it is the people that are sovereign, not the Monarchy nor (as in England) the parliament.

What utterly dishonest drivel. This is the party whose leader doesn't have a clue what rate the old age pension is but nonetheless wants to cut income tax in a clear attempt to out right wing the Tories. What a well thought out plan.

Yet in Scotland we are supposed to condemn the SNP for a few comments by Alex Salmond in an interview that have been taken out of context. Just ignore what they have done in Government ie reducing tuition fees opposing Trident and introducing free school meals and prescriptions.

What has happened to the Lib Dems? At one point you could have said they were a fairly honest (ok they've always been a bit pick 'n' mix in terms of policy but nonetheless) Scottish party with impeccable democratic credentials.

Nowadays they are unionist also rans who are industinguishable from Labour and have joined Labour (once also a proud party) and the Tories in their contempt for Scotland's democratic aspirations. Changed days and not for the better.

~7 - free care for the elderly, removal of upfront tuition fees, free eye tests, free buses for the elderly etc etc. So I say to you when will SNP pledges become reality as they have already let down the students, the elderly and the communities who need the extra policing?

At this time of financial crisis we propose to use the tax cutting powers of the SCOTTISH parliament to help reinvigorate our economy and ease the burden on our citizens by cutting income tax by 2p in the pound, here in Scxotland. Will the SNP agree to this?

#16 Living proof that you can fool some of the people all of the time.

The same people who make Tavish Scott their leader and applaud him when he re-writes history to support a flawed policy.

The libdems have once again got a powerful team and work at grass roots level for everyone. The Nats are interested in one thing, currying favour with a lot of sound bites - and then, while you are looking the other way, they will tell you that independence is the answer - and then we will be no better or worse than Iceland - i.e. bankrupt and alone.

Unless 'ordinary Scots' really means Donald Trump.