Murphy’s the man

Any new leader of a political party would expect to be greeted with flak from those of a different persuasion. It’s par for the course. It is, therefore, no surprise that SNP supporters are out in force (Letters, 17 December) sticking the knife into Jim Murphy.

Douglas Turner claims Mr Murphy “has turned himself into a caricature of his former self”. This is a bit rich coming from the supporter of a party whose in-out-in manoeuvres on Nato, for instance, sound more like the hokey-cokey than policy development.

On the issue of policies for managing the national debt, Hugh Kerr points out that the SNP have signed up to an 
alliance against austerity.

Well, that should solve the problem! I have never been able to understand how an independent Scotland would have been immune from austerity.

Indeed, with oil prices less than half of Mr Salmond’s “conservative” forecast we would have been in for austerity-max.

But I forget. The SNP solution to debt is simple: don’t pay it.

One wonders, though, if your correspondents “protest too much”? Perhaps they are just a little bit concerned that Mr Murphy will indeed turn things round.

He has certainly made an impressive start and his performance in the referendum showed that he has the dedication and energy for the long haul.

One thing is sure. As John Milne (Letters, same issue) points out, it would be a bleak prospect for democracy in Scotland if the Labour Party does not mount a serious challenge to the SNP.

I am very optimistic that Mr Murphy is the man to oversee a resurgence in the party’s 
fortunes.

Colin Hamilton

Braid Hills Avenue

Edinburgh