Opportunity for Tories

While no-one can doubt the enthusiasm of the Conservative Party leader, David Cameron, in holding a shadow Cabinet meeting in Scotland, he clearly fails to see the obvious path for Scottish Conservatism.

Scotland is unique in Europe by having no party of the centre right with a chance of gaining power. This is because the Tories are a Unionist party in a country in which independence is increasingly the favoured option.

In an independent Scotland, the SNP would dissipate into smaller parties and with the constitutional issue settled, natural right-left politics would return, benefiting a Scottish Tory Party.

In UK terms, Labour would lose some 40 seats, crippling its chances of forming another government.

Both north and south of the Border, the Conservatives should realise the benefits for them of independence.

GAVIN FLEMING, Grassmarket, Edinburgh

It will come as no surprise if the Scottish Tories are bombed out in the May elections if the reported comments of the chairman of its policy review, Oliver Letwin, are anything to go by. Apparently he considers Scotland to be a "foreign" country.

Comments and attitudes such as this are a gift to the other parties, and will ensure that the Tories continue to be in the Scottish political wilderness for decades to come.

BOB MACDOUGALL, Oxhill, Kippen, Stirlingshire