JULY 4 was a tough night as voters across Scotland rejected SNP policies.

After time to reflect on how we lost touch with voters’ priorities, we’re pressing the ‘reset button’ and listening attentively to your views.

Many oppose intensely the war in Gaza. Labour is still supplying weapons to Israel; it would cost nothing for Labour to halt arms sales and state loudly and publicly that the devastation of Gaza’s infrastructure has not prevented Hamas executing hostages. Labour must assert this war is unwinnable and demand a ceasefire, massive humanitarian relief and dialogue leading to Palestinian self-determination.

Many voted Labour to eject a despised Tory Government, trusting Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s promise: “Read my lips: no austerity in Scotland.” Now Prime Minister Keir Starmer prophesies a “painful budget... short-term pain for long-term good... things will get worse before they get better”. If you voted Labour, were you expecting pain not just for you but for children in poverty?

Did lifelong Tories vote Labour to restrict SNP influence at Westminster, handing Labour a five-year majority now targeting the “broadest shoulders to bear the heavier burden” including on pensions, savings and inheritance? A proposed £1,000-over-five-years pension increase to enhance pensioners’ “dignity” will be worth just £3.85 a week in the first year, or 55p a day, barely enough for a grandchild’s packet of crisps. If ‘small change’ is all that Chancellor Rachel Reeves can find, she’s looking in the wrong place.

House of Commons Library statistics (August 15) show the UK’s GDP grew by 2.3 per cent from 2019 pre-pandemic levels. France’s grew by 3.8 per cent; the Eurozone by 4 per cent; Italy by 4.7 per cent, double the UK’s. East Lothian backed Remain by 64.6; would you now back rejoining the EU? Thousands voting Labour, and hundreds of thousands voting SNP, believe growing our economy back in Europe is the main benefit of independence. Labour is blocking both.

Depute leader Keith Brown noted drily that media commentators consider the SNP lacks ‘star quality’, before introducing First Minister John Swinney, who set out a visionary plan for Scottish self-government to “unlock a better future with professional modern campaigning, confident and surefooted, centred on honest, candid, respectful debate”.

Aware of past party differences, the First Minister established new clarity: “Independence isn’t something that would just be ‘nice to have’; it is absolutely essential for Scotland’s future.” Aiming to “rekindle the imagination” of a nation growing in confidence, Mr Swinney left his audience in no doubt: we, the people of Scotland, must create our own future. No one will do it for us.