RUTH Marr's response (Letters, March 31) to Richard Mowbray's letter (March 30) was entirely in point.

Those of us who consider that Scotland should no longer be part of the United Kingdom do not hold ill will against our partners in that great union. It is just that we see our future elsewhere, and that elsewhere includes the Europe with whom we have had close friendship, long before we became party to England's imperial wars. We have shared much and there is not a village in Scotland without its memorial to prove it.

It seems to me that the SNP's case in this General Election is that we can help our United Kingdom to be for the people living in it and not for the profiteers and suchlike who have been running it since Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair were elected. It is high time that the people of this United Kingdom took control of their democratic rights. To my fellow Scots I simply say: "Gie's the ba' back."

KM Campbell,

Bank House, Doune.

I TOTALLY understand Lord Ashdown's point of view ("Ashdown claims Nationalists want to bring the House down", The Herald, March 31).

As an unelected, unaccountable, member of the House of Lords, he can subsidise his generous MP's pension at a rate of £300 a day plus expenses. Why would you want to change such Westminster workings?

David Hay,

12 Victoria Park, Minard.

YOU report the comment by the Mayor of London that a Labour/SNP pact would easily amount to "the Scottish tail wagging the English dog. Good to have Scotland's status in the UK thus clarified, But doubtful that many dogs view their tails as "equal partners". Presumably, Scottish Unionists will nevertheless come to heel in promoting this fresh perspective.

Alan Oliver,

Battock Road, Brightons, Stirlingshire.

I WAS about to write to BBC Scotland to complain that their TV news coverage was looking like part of the SNP publicity machine when I picked up The Herald. Alex Salmond thinks the BBC is biased against the SNP and thinks broadcasting powers should be transferred to Holyrood ("Salmond: End BBC bias and transfer powers to Holyrood", The Herald, March 30). This brings to mind other countries where they controls or seeks to control broadcasting. Radio and TV are always the first to go in a coup.

This threat to democracy was further compounded by the party banning their MPs "from any public criticism of the party". The SNP leadership are fond of suggesting that Scotland should follow the examples set by other countries, but I did not think China was one.

At least Mr Salmond has shown his true colours in time for the electorate to come to an informed decision prior to voting.

Ian Scott,

3 Rowan Lane, Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute.