Letters: Why vote for candidates who can't be bothered?

Only one of the candidates turned up - Councillor Lesley Hinds of the Scottish Labour party, who was probably the only one who we have seen on a regular basis anyway.

The Conservatives sent another representative along and to be fair he at least tried to fight his corner in a seat that his party's candidate is unlikely to do well in.

However, I am incensed that the sitting MSP Margaret Smith felt obliged to send another in her place (Councillor Paul Edie) whilst she attended a meeting in Glasgow.

Come on Margaret, this is the constituency that you and your party claim to support. We know it's not one of the more salubrious parts of your patch, but you are our MSP.

Also missing was Colin Keir of the SNP, and he did not even send a substitute. I'd have liked to at least seen him, as all the literature we get from his party is about Alex Salmond, who last time I looked wasn't standing in Edinburgh Western.

I believe that these three "scarlet pimpernels" will not be absent from any future hustings meetings we might have in the constituency, especially in more affluent areas such as Blackhall, Cramond and Corstorphine.

If they cannot be bothered meeting us, then I for one won't bother voting for them.

Robert Wright, Muirhouse Green, Edinburgh

Who's telling the truth over passes

IN your article "Buses accountant standing for SNP calls for trams axe" (News, April 21), Gordon MacDonald, the SNP's candidate in Edinburgh Pentlands, is quoted as saying: "There has been a ticking time-bomb at the heart of the tram project that no-one has been prepared to discuss.

"The business case is predicated on the principle that the tram will be eligible for inclusion in the Scottish National Concession Scheme. Unfortunately, when the scheme was introduced by the previous administration, it excluded all fixed rail transport."

This seems strange, as the June 2009 Edinburgh Outlook, the newsletter that the council sends out, had a section under the heading "Your Tram Questions Answered". One of those questions was "Can I use my concessionary bus pass on the tram?" and the answer "Yes".

Either Mr MacDonald is wrong or Edinburgh Council is, but I can't recall seeing any correction to the article.

K Cowan, Antigua Street

Job vows need lots more work

ALL the political parties have recognised the need to put jobs for young people high up on the agenda. Youth unemployment stats released last month show the numbers rising and there is widespread fear that a generation could be lost to under-achievement and poverty.But can we believe their manifesto promises?

Where the future of our young people is concerned I would like to see all politicians explain exactly how their plans are going to work.

As an employer, I would like to understand where the jobs for all the apprenticeships promised are going to be found? How additional training is going to lead to real jobs? And how are funds to be used to support employers and students?

Voters should be given detail, not headline-grabbing numbers.

Gerard Eadie, chairman, CR Smith, Dunfermline

Cycle accident is waiting to happen

I AM concerned about the actions of some cyclists in Edinburgh. On my way to work last week, I saw several bike riders ignore red lights at busy junctions in the city; two jumped the lights at Picardy Place to go down Broughton Street and two ignored a red light in London Road to turn into the road leading to Queens Park.

This took place in the morning rush hour. I have also observed cyclists on pavements.

I appreciate that the police are busy, and that not all drivers observe the rules of the road, but is it going to take an accident before something is done?

William Whyte, Piersfield Grove, Edinburgh