As a retired member of Unite, I received the union's glossy eight-page publication promoting its preferred candidate for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party.

While it is the union's prerogative to endorse a candidate, the lack of reference to the candidates it does not favour is hardly in the spirit of democracy.

If the Scottish Labour Party is to avoid importing the leadership problems of its UK parent, it must elect a leader with a proven record of winning and who is capable of leading the party into the fight of its life.

If the trade union movement really wants to see Labour return to power in Scotland, its members should consider who is most likely to unsettle the nationalists. The one candidate who satisfies all those criteria is Jim Murphy.

Allan C Steele,

22 Forres Avenue,

Giffnock.