Letters: Salmond criticism is unfair

I take issue with Alexander McKay's criticism of Alex Salmond's performances at Holyrood.

The First Minster can indeed be confrontational, but is often capable of off the cuff wit, and when serious life and death issues come up, he always rises to the occasion and speaks for Scotland in a responsible manner.

His occasional adversarial approach may be a natural response to the constant baying and heckling which continually emanates from the Labour benches in particular.

First Minster's Questions may be little more than pantomime, but if Labour leader Iain Gray genuinely aspires to be "principal boy" after 2011, he has a lot of work to do given his recent parliamentary performances. His back-benchers could also benefit from learning some basic manners.

GAVIN FLEMING

Webster's Land

Grassmarket, Edinburgh