THERE was a book published in 2012, The Strange Death of Labour Scotland, by Gerry Hassan and Eric Shaw.

It's now clear the cause of death was suicide, assisted by the SNP.

The fundamental problem for the Labour Party is that they still doesn't know whether to be New Labour or old Labour.

In the run-up to the 1997 election that delivered a landslide for Labour, there were many party members who thought the "New" bit was just a ruse to fool voters. They expected that, once in power, the mask would be ripped off and old Labour would re-emerge, red in tooth and claw. There was much annoyance when Tony Blair stated very clearly that, having been elected as New Labour, they would govern as New Labour.

Hopes were raised on the left of the party when Gordon Brown took over as leader and Prime Minister, despite the fact that Mr Brown had been one of the key architects of New Labour. Those hopes were soon dashed, as Mr Brown showed no inclination to move to a traditional left-wing position. Sadly, he didn't show much inclination to move New Labour further forward, either.

What hobbles Labour in their quest to modernise is their dependence on the big trade unions for funding. Union membership is now only 6.5 million, mostly in the public sector; only 15 per cent of private sector employees are members. If Labour try to operate as the political wing of the trade union movement, they can never win.

The party missed an opportunity when they were in office from 1997 to 2010. They should have introduced the state funding of political parties; that would have solved some of their own problems and stopped the Tories being bankrolled by a few wealthy individuals.

There is room in British politics for a modern, progressive, slightly-left-of-centre party in the mould of the European social democratic parties. I doubt if Labour can make the changes required to occupy that space and, in Scotland, that space is held firmly by the SNP. A strange death for a once great party, indeed.

Doug Maughan,

52 Menteith View, Dunblane.

IT'S no mystery as to why Labour did so badly in the General Election but they won't want to admit it. They took the vote of the "working class" for granted especially in Scotland and worked on increasing their share of the "middle class" vote throughout the UK. If this had worked they would have won the General Election but unfortunately for them working-class voters deserted them in droves. They lost the election badly because the working class are not as dim as the Labour Party thought they were in fully realising that the Labour Party was no longer a party striving to improve their lot.

William McCreath,

14 Finnart Road, Greenock.

THE critics of Scottish Labour love to accuse the party of losing their soul. This is bit rich when many of those critics on the progressive and radical left have aligned with the divisive and grievance-fuelled politics of nationalism.

To be fair, the SNP have given their version of the ideology of separation a shiny new exterior. Claiming the moral high ground, they have presented themselves capable of curing practically all known ills. Whether overcoming poverty, ending austerity or removing nuclear weapons, they have the way. All quite simple really when you care little for cost, consequences or feasibility. It seems there is a rich seam of the disaffected and disappointed in Scotland who are all too ready to succumb to such empty promises.

Scottish Labour will have their time again, and as good a starting point as any will be to press home the SNP's failures to date, as well as the impact of their plans for the future on the very people that the nationalists say they will help: the disadvantaged, as much as those who depend on the good jobs they have, or hope to have in the future; those who care for the well-being of all, no matter which side they live of a border; the aspirational who want a better way of life, as much as better finances.

Be of good heart Scottish Labour, for your heart has always been in the right place. You did not lose your soul, at worst you lost your way for a while, and will soon be back on track. Many across the political spectrum want to see you play your active part. The ordinary people of Scotland need you more now than ever.

Keith Howell,

White Moss, West Linton, Peeblesshire.