Labour priorities

The comparative economic ­analysis by Peter Jones (Perspective, 6 January) of the plans of Nicola Sturgeon and Jim Murphy for reducing inequality in Scottish society confirms what many had already deduced or suspected: the new leader of the Labour Party in Scotland is more interested in producing seemingly attractive political “soundbites” than ­tackling the entrenched and growing inequality that blights Scotland today.

While some may be beguiled by dulcet tones that suggest the “orator” believes he can lead the masses to the “Promised Land”, even a cursory examination of the principles that would appear to underpin his parliamentary ­actions to date reveal that Jim Murphy is far from being a paragon of selfless virtue.

This colourful political chameleon may still fool some people some of the time, but thankfully the referendum debate has ­resulted in a more informed ­Scottish public which is unlikely to be fooled long enough to support the career ambitions of such a disingenuous individual at the expense, ultimately, of the poor and those less privileged in our society.

Stan Grodynski

Longniddry

East Lothian

So Scottish Labour Party leader Jim Murphy, as predicted, is ­peddling the myth that a vote for the SNP is a vote for those nasty Tories.

Are those the same Tories with whom he stood shoulder to shoulder, endorsing every negative vibe they projected at Scotland?

Are those the same Tories he was cuddly-duddlying up to, every smooch-way and loose, throughout the referendum campaign?

Can it be that the Tories have changed their spots? Or is it that Mr Murphy has more faces than Big Ben?

After all, he claims he believes in an independent Scottish ­Labour Party, but not in an ­independent Scotland.

Joseph G Miller

Gardeners Street

Dunfermline