Different values

So the outrage at Alistair Carmichael’s misdemeanour moves to the courts (your report, 30 May).

We’re led to believe the indignant voters of Orkney and Shetland are on a desperate quest for honesty and transparency. But are they being realistic?

Nicola Sturgeon appeared regularly on TV prior to the general election insisting the election was about only austerity and not constitutional reform.

Then on 8 May she demanded more devolution from David Cameron and SNP MPs threatened another independence referendum if he didn’t cave in to her demands.

Was this honest and transparent? No. Are the First Minister and her cohort of MPs falling on their swords and standing for re-election? Of course not. Politicians will say anything to get our vote or score a point.

What lies behind the Alistair Carmichael witch hunt is that Ms Sturgeon is so venerated by the SNP faithful that no one is permitted to belittle her.

Plus all this is a handy distraction from Scotland’s real issues, such as declining literacy rates in schools on the First Minister’s watch.

The SNP already has 95 per cent of Scottish Westminster seats with just under 50 per cent of the votes. Isn’t trying to grab one more just a wee bit greedy?

Martin Redfern

Royal Circus

Edinburgh