WITH the SNP still to decide on many of their Westminster candidates for the 2015 election the inference on BBC1's Question Time was that Alex Salmond might be attracted to that institution once again ("Salmond hints he may stand as MP in 2015 poll", The Herald, October 24).
As I recall, the last time he held dual portfolios, one for Banff and Buchan and the other in East Aberdeenshire, he continued to draw two salaries whilst effectively neglecting his duties as an MP in favour of his second job at Holyrood. If it does transpire that he doesn't fancy the back benches behind Nicola Sturgeon then I'm sure the electorate, of whatever constituency, will view this type of carpet-bagging by politicians for what it is and send him home to Strichen or Linlithgow to think again.
Galen Milne,
Ochiltree, Dunblane.
I FIND Nick Clegg's remarks when comparing our First Minister to a Japanese soldier disgusting and degrading ("'Salmond like a Japanese soldier still fighting after war is over'", The Herald, October 21). The Japanese meted out cruel and barbaric treatment to our soldiers and civilians during the Second World War and this will be poignantly remembered in two weeks' time on Rememberance Day.
Mr Clegg may not have lived during these horrendous times but if he reads his history books he should apologise for making such a comparison to our First Minister.
It is now nearly 70 years since these awful events, but they remain very real and have been recorded in many writings and films.
Jean Mitchell,
3 Burndale Terrace, Kilmacolm.
MY family has been solid Labour for generations.
The behaviour of Ed Miliband, Gordon Brown, Johann Lamont and the rest during the referendum campaign lost the party our allegiance: as has been said by so many, the abandonment of any other motivation than the retention of "safe" Labour seats in 2015 will spectacularly backfire. Many voters will remember with disgust those pictures of Labour politicians celebrating with the Tories.
Today, however, sees the party reaching a new low: a Labour leader espousing apparently racially motivated ideals ("Miliband lays down plans for migrant workers", The Herald, October 24). To pander to that lowest of prejudices, racial bigotry, in response to a surge in Ukip support, is quite shocking.
This Labour leadership believes that people in Scotland will forgive them in order to keep the Tories out. Well, here's the rub: there is no difference between them. They will do anything, no matter how undignified or reprehensible, to gain power.
Alice Watt,
Newton Street,
Greenock.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article