THERE has been much sanctimonious twaddle about Andy Murray's nationality and Alex Salmond's flag-waving since Sunday, a category in which I have to place the Rt Rev John Taylor's contribution (Letters, July 10).

To declare that he is "ashamed" of the Scottish flag is in my opinion shameful in itself.

As for the knighthood nonsense, this is a cynical attempt to sweep Murray into the British establishment before the independence referendum. All honour to him, but it is too soon to burden him with a title. Let him achieve his potential (another three-four years perhaps) then, by all means heap honours and titles on him. His achievements by then will be even greater.

The British honours system is, in any case, thoroughly discredited – the succession of incompetents, crooks, timeservers and the truly nasty who have taken their bow at the Palace has discredited it for the deserving, but if we must have it, far better to make his mother a Dame. Judy Murray's dedication to her sons, and to the sport of tennis in Scotland has been immense, and she seems to be a really nice person.

David Roche,

1 Alder Grove,

Scone,

Perth.

MUCH has been said over the last few days in respect of First Minister Alex Salmond and his flag-waving (Letters, July 9 and 10). Much of it is incorrect. The All England Lawn Tennis Association has very strict rules. In particular, rule 15, para 3 section b: "No person/s may remove their sports coat/jacket in the Royal Box without prior written consent from the committee."

Readers will have noted that David Cameron had removed his jacket and when the TV cameras pictured him at the joyous culmination of the match, will have also seen Mr Salmond trying his best to drape the only available large enough piece of material he had to hand to help screen our Prime Minister's social faux pas.

Michael Campbell,

Leanaig,

Conon Bridge.

I AGREE with the Rt Rev John Taylor regarding the pilfering of the Saltire by the Nationalists. I used to fly the Saltire with pride but after the ambush by the Yes group, only the Union flag or the Lion Rampant adorn my flagpole.

Peter Jensen,

Tigh an Abhainn,

Skipness,

Tarbert.

YOU reported that Andy Murray will declare his opinion on independence once he studies all the data on the debate ("Murray: I will declare my hand on independence", July 9). Good luck to him, as we have all been waiting on this from both Yes and No campaigns rather than the continual generic statements and rebuffs we get all the time without any meat on the bone.

It is interesting how Mr Salmond with his flag-waving makes political capital out of Murray's success while not allowing him to vote in the referendum as he lives in England, while 60,000 immigrants who live in Scotland for a couple of years with little interest in our constitution will be able to vote in the referendum.

Andrew Kerr,

28 Benview Terrace.

Fishcross,

Alloa.

IT would not matter what Alex Salmond did, he would be pilloried from every quarter, while other Scottish political leaders, Unionists who effectively, by dint of their failures, handed power over to the SNP, get off Scot-free.

What would these people have made of the sight I had on holiday in Norfolk (Sandringham territory) during the Jubilee celebrations last year, where there was hardly a Union flag to be seen. The emblem of choice was St George's Cross, indicating that it was the Queen of England they were celebrating, not the Queen of the UK. But you would not expect that kind of news item to feature on BBC Scotland and it had no significance south of the Border, where they think they are doing nothing unusual.

Douglas R Mayer,

76 Thomson Crescent,

Currie.