Letter: SNP competence

The phrase "selective amnesia" comes to mind. The Conservative Party is still seen as the nasty party in Scotland, being responsible for the poll tax, the decimation of the steel, coal and shipbuilding industries and for the fate of the fishing industry.

After 13 years in office, a casual observer would notice Labour did little to address these issues. Labour's "a big boy did it and ran away" excuse doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

The Lib Dems made a promise to students, then broke it. Labour claims it's all the Lib Dems' fault because Lib Dem voters went en masse to the SNP. No, many did - but many in fact returned to Labour. However, many Labour voters went to the SNP, as did many Tory voters.

Mr Kelly seems to be pinning his hopes on Scotland staying in the union in his belief that the SNP will prove to be just as incompetent as its unionist rivals. If this is how he thinks the destiny of a nation is decided, then the union has problems.

Mev Brown

Southhouse Square

Edinburgh

What puzzles me about Michael Kelly's article on the election is that he claims Iain Gray is the scapegoat for Labour, and that the Tory campaign was disastrous.

I thought the Labour campaign was disastrous. Labour started by fighting the Westminster election again. Was Iain Gray challenging David Cameron? Then it switched target to Alex Salmond.

Labour adopted every manifesto commitment made by the SNP, bar independence. The electorate could choose either with the only difference bar one being "Alex for First Minister". Naturally, many of Labour's natural voters chose the SNP.

Annabel Goldie ran a good campaign. She told the electorate the truth. The electorate has chosen all the goodies promised by the SNP. Admittedly the Tories started from a very low base, and the electorate has not forgiven them for defying their verdict in Scotland.

The SNP tactic of targeting the list votes has certainly paid off. The nationalists played on Alex Salmond for First Minister, not on independence.

Now they have to deliver, and will there be enough in the kitty? If not they will, of course, blame the coalition.

They will tell us an independent Scotland would be so much better. Who bailed out the Scottish banks? The UK taxpayer.

Do we really want to join Ireland?

Have we forgotten the Darien scheme which prompted us to accede to the Act of Union in the first place?

John Kelly

High Street

Dalkeith