COLIN Gunn (Letters, January 27) rightly takes Ruth Marr to task on her ridiculous manipulation of the No vote in the referendum (Letters, January 24).

It is my belief that the late intervention of politicians had little effect.The silent majority made up their minds long before the hustings that they did not want to see the break-up of the United Kingdom and this remains their conviction.

If there is another referendum the result will be exactly the same.

WRaymond Shaw,

(01) 4 Bellwood Street, Shawlands, Glasgow.

I WOULD respectfully point out to Colin Gunn that far from living in a parallel universe, I live in a country which has seen support and membership for all the Yes-supporting parties soar since September 18. Opinion polls indicate that this will be transmitted into votes at the upcoming General Election, and already we have seen concrete proof of that, in Gordon Brown's own constituency, no less, where last week the SNP won the Kirkcaldy East by-election with a 13 per cent swing from Labour.

It is entirely unacceptable that a patronising Prime Minister we never voted for should govern Scotland with a government we never voted for. Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road,

Stirling.

MAGNUS Gardham writes that "only 82 per cent of MSPs support the move" for tax raising powers to Holryood, leaving 18 per cent opposed". Perhaps I have been wrong all of my long life in believing that the word "only", in any context, applies to the minority and not a substantial majority. I am sure his choice of where to place his "only" does not reveal a bias.

Jim Sillars,

97 Grange Loan,

Edinburgh.