IAIN AD Mann is quite correct to question the role of civil servants in political matters.

However, in reporting examples of the sort of thing that upsets him, he seems to have missed quite some important examples.

I am pleased to fill the gaps in Mr Mann's account. These are of course the complicity in the Scottish Government officials in producing an SNP manifesto in all but name in the form of the independence White Paper, and in agreeing to work on the basis of oil revenue estimates of $113 per barrel when this was known to be fantasy.

With regard to l'affaire Sturgeon, the First Minister should feel flattered. For far too long, the SNP and their leaders have been given an easy ride by the media, both London and Scottish-based, as shown by the chummy reception reserved for Alex Salmond in the BBC's studios. (In contrast, for as long as Labour have been a threat to Tory hegemony, their leaders have been pilloried and ridiculed.) Now the SNP are being taken seriously, it should be no surprise that the fawning and indulgence has stopped.

Welcome to the real world of grown-up politics, Ms Sturgeon. You should be flattered that they are taking you so seriously, but don't let it go to your head - you are just as likely to be this year's Cleggmania.

Peter A Russell,

87 Munro Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow.

I NORMALLY enjoy Iain AD Mann's letters. However, his contribution today was a bit on the naive side. he top civil servants of the UK are the establishment, and any threat to it will see a response from the backroom boys of Westminster.

I suggest Mr Mann revisits some episodes of Yes Minister to remind himself of who actually runs the UK.

As for sacking the poor soul who wrote the specious memo, I disagree. Whoever it was should be brought into public view and asked who instructed them to formulate the said memo. Then the sackings could commence.

Jim Dear,

82 Marketgate, Arbroath.

THE Liberal Democrats must truly have a hide like an elephant. First of all, Nick Clegg, who led his party into the toxic mix of government with the Tories, unblushingly washes his hands of them at last week's Leaders' Debate. Then, Alistair Carmichael, from whose Scotland Office department the now-notorious false memo was leaked, declares "in the middle of an election campaign, these things happen" ("Westminster elite are 'in a panic' over memo leak", The Herald, April 6). What things? Deliberate lies and smears presented to the electorate as fact, not to mention a diplomatic incident whereby the French Consul has to come out on to the pavement to confirm to TV cameras NIcola Sturgeon's account of her meeting with the French Ambassador? Mr Carmichael appears to take "these things" in his stride.

Mr Carmichael should be ashamed that "these things" should happen in his department, and at the very least he should do is say sorry to Ms Sturgeon. And excusez-moi to the French.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road, Stirling.

THE recent Labour Party conference was dominated by attempts to re-brand Jim Murphy. Now we are told he is in favour of all things Scottish including more powers for the Scottish Parliament, but let us not forget that up to now he has been a Westminster career politician, a disciple of Tony Blair, a strong supporter and voter for the Iraq war, renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons systems, and supporter of the London-Labour-controlled system that caused Johann Lamont to quit so dramatically the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party.

Many Labour voters in two of Scotland's largest cities, Glasgow and Dundee voted Yes in the Referendum, the outcome being that both cities voted in favour of Independence for Scotland. Many throughout Scotland were angered to see the Labour Party campaign hand in hand with the rejected Tories, something that will never be forgotten in their lifetime.

Opinion polls show no signs of voters changing back to Labour, despite a series of Murphy gimmicks.

John S Jappy,

Moy Bridge Cottage, Muir of Ord.

YOUR Election 2015 pages today reveal both the bad and the good in politics. For the second time in a few days, David Cameron has gone unashamedly for the sympathy vote with his references to the tragic loss of his son, Ivan ("Loss of son saw Camerons near 'breaking point'", The Herald April 7). My wife and I suffered a similar loss twice many years ago but, like many other ordinary parents, we would never have thought of using these circumstances to our own advantage.

By contrast, your feature on funding for Motor Neurone Disease highlights the part being played by Gordon Aikman, a No activist in the Referendum campaign ("Dying campaigner makes heart-felt plea to double funding in incurable illness fight", The Herald, April 7). Mr Aikman, 30, has been given a death sentence on being diagnosed with MND but, instead of sitting around feeling sorry for himself, he has thrown himself wholeheartedly into making matters better for future sufferers from this pernicious illness.

Mr Aikman and I were on different sides of therReferendum campaign but his heroic efforts transcend politics and reveal all that is best in humanity. Meanwhile, Mr Cameron should think twice before using personal tragedy in a political context.

Gordon Evans

5 York Drive, Burnside, Rutherglen.

DAVID Torrance is right in his comments on the prominent former Labour supporters who are now queuing up to offer spurious excuses for their defection to the SNP ("Riddle of Labour's lost soul could backfire on the SNP", The Herald,April 6). Many of their offerings reek of pure pique dressed up as principle. So cocksure that they were right about independence, these well-heeled individuals encouraged voters from some of the poorest communities to vote Yes without regard to the effects on those communities had independence been achieved and had it all gone wrong. They, of course, would have remained comfortably off, no matter the consequences for others.

Resentful that Labour did not give the Yes side the benefit of a split opposition, and angry that they were so prominently on the losing side, they are now encouraging voters to punish Labour in the coming election. They seem to think that, whenever it was they claim that Labour lost its soul and its values, these are to be found again lying around somewhere under the opposition benches at Westminster. Every seat that Labour lose to the SNP reduces the target the Conservatives have to reach by one seat. The larger the number of seats the SNP take from Labour, the bigger the gift to the Tories, making the SNP David Cameron's biggest electoral asset in Scotland. It is a fact, whether or not the SNP admit it, either publicly or privately

If those who claim to detest the Tories, when given the opportunity to vote them out, wilfully and willingly vote against the only alternative party that can form a government, we can safely assume that for SNP supporters the re-election of the Tories is a price worth paying on the road to independence. Well-off Labour switchers can then sit back comfortably with their souls and their bank balances intact, knowing that the price won't be paid by them.

A McCulloch,

16 South Street,

Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire.