Tory solution

Gavin Fleming (Letters, 7 July) is right to point out the Scottish Tories are increasingly irrelevant, however there is one way they can revive their party.

Instead of wallowing in the prejudices listed with depressing accuracy by Philip Lardner (Letters, same day), they could follow their better instincts of self-reliance and enterprise by abandoning their support for "unionism" and advocating an independent Scotland based on low tax rates, highly skilled jobs and wealth creation.

Any support they lost from the plus-fours and blue-rinse brigade would be more than compensated by new support gained from more enlightened Scots. After all, what do they have to lose?

SOPHIE L ANDERSON

Marchmont Road

Edinburgh