Letters prayer

The letters page is the only place in a newspaper where its readers can inform their fellows, amuse them or simply sound off. It should be protected from trespassers such as ministers who have ample opportunity to share with us their every waking thought.

Energy minister Fergus Ewing, not content with your report of his New Year message, simultaneously sought to reject criticism of his policy via a letter in your columns (5 January). Ministers should stick to the press release, the persuasive phone call and the unattributable leak. Leave the rest of us our only public forum for criticism.

GILLIAN BISHOP

Ryelands

Strathaven, Lanarkshire