Party service
Neither the SNP nor any political party can appoint a civil servant (your report, 25 January). Kevin Pringle is a special adviser. He was not recruited by independent competitive examination to join the non-political civil service, but was appointed personally by the First Minister specifically to advise on politics.
Civil servants must not be party to political activities; that is the whole role of a special adviser. I have long been puzzled as to why special advisers are often called civil servants and are paid by the taxpayer, although they are operating on behalf of a particular party.
Ronnie Cramond
Oswald Road