Kelly spot on about what ails the SNP

Published on 28/12/2012 00:00

FOR once I can find nothing in Michael Kelly’s piece ­(Perspective, 27 December) with which I disagree.

His catalogue of the self-inflicted disasters suffered by the Nationalists since they achieved an overall majority in Holy­rood is not just his opinion, but totally factual, and proves the saying about giving a man enough rope to hang himself.

If your production department has a one-key shortcut for oft-used phrases, I imagine that the one for my prediction of the SNP response to this article must be just about worn out by now: ­possibly, “The First Minister ­dismissed the claims as scaremongering”.

Walter J Allan

Colinton Mains Drive

Edinburgh

HOORAY for Michael Kelly. Although I hold no brief for his politics, at long last someone has had the nerve to itemise Alex Salmond’s shortcomings over the independence debate.

What a wonderful Christmas present for our First Minister and his supporters who have all been living on another planet. Roll on autumn 2014 when we can put all this nonsense to bed and concentrate on restoring Scotland’s economic well-being.

Archie Blair

Riverside Park

Blairgowrie

Michael Kelly has an excellent habit of being deliberately naive. To blame the SNP leadership as solely responsible for the current slip in support for independence is an excellent example of this.

It is bordering on the simplistic not to make reference to the huge deluge of back-channel e-mails and telephone calls that have been taking place over recent months. The remarkable intervention of European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso is a case in point. The SNP government has made mistakes, however, and the trick will be to make no more.

National unity must be the priority and controversial and divisive legislation related to social engineering must be eschewed at all costs. In England we see the Cameron coalition government against the ropes for that very reason.

Michael Kelly is long enough in the tooth to know that a week is a long time in politics and almost two years even longer.

Alan Clayton

Letters Way

Strachur, Argyll

IN DESCRIBING Holyrood’s presiding officer as a “puppet’’ Michael Kelly is being too kind. Any observer of First Minister’s Questions would have to concede Tricia Marwick’s treatment of her boss, Alex Salmond, is an ­affront. He is allowed to say anything but answer the question asked.

Alexander McKay

New Cut Rigg

Edinburgh