Love’s Labour lost

The composer of yesterday’s editorial (25 September), in concluding that “Mr Miliband’s… response to the No vote adds to the impression that Labour is far from in a fit condition to govern,” begs a question: if not Labour, then who?

Most UK voters are unionist by inclination; they must realise that the Conservatives almost lost Scotland, and by implication the United Kingdom.

Further: in the 2000s they demanded even more deregulation of banks and financial institutions than the Labour Party’s disastrous moves in that area. The voter will not forget that.

It may not have been possible to have recovered from the trade depression that Tory get-rich-quick policies would have dropped us into.

And if you think they would have built up sensible reserves during the times of plenty you can think again – privatisation of anything that moved would have poured government income into the pockets of their backers and business colleagues – they have form for it.

Surely the Toxic Ones are un-electable for years, if not decades, to come. The Liberal Democrats will be punished at the polls for the sins of the coalition, and I can’t see Ukip ruling the southern roost for a few years yet. So, in 2015, if not Labour, who? Ah, Nicola of course; oops, sorry – wrong parliament.

David Fiddimore

Calton Road

Edinburgh