Salmond has no place in election debate

This would of course encourage the Green Party, the BNP, Ukip and others to ask to participate as they have candidates standing in constituencies throughout the UK, not just in small areas within it.

The BBC made the correct decision and should stick to it.

WILLIAM W SCOTT

St Baldred's Road

North Berwick

The bleating about the party leaders' debate (Letters 4 March) was as predictable as the choice of language which included "second-class citizens", "London-centric" and, my favourite, "largest indigenous Scottish political party". What pathetic saps we are in danger of becoming. The rest of the UK has little interest in the thoughts of Alex Salmond or Angus Robertson. Live with it, just as I have to live with the expensive, publicly funded "Edinburgh-centric" drivel that Holyrood spews out.

LAWRENCE FRASER

Mayne Road

Elgin

So, SNP activist Alex Orr takes umbrage at the fact that his beloved leader hasn't been invited to televised election debates (Letters, 4 March).

The next election is a UK one and it is the British nation that will go to the polls in May. What we want to know is which party can best get us out of recession and start paying off our debts, not one which uses taxpayers' money to fund dreary STV shows, empties prisons, pimps its leaders at dinners for donations and writes letters to court on behalf of a fraudster.

As these unnecessary debates will be televised it is surely irrelevant which part of the UK they are broadcast from. The questions and answers, however, are relevant to all UK citizens. Having Alex Salmond there would be a distraction and an embarrassment.

COLIN WILSON

Arnothill Court

Falkirk

In your story regarding the TV election debates (your report, 3 March) there was no mention of when these are to take place. I hope that the dates will be published soon to give us ample time to take avoiding action.

IAN LEWIS

Mayfield Terrace

Edinburgh