While one can only admire Nigel Farage's optimism in putting up candidates at the next European and Parliamentary elections in Scotland, he is wasting his time ("UKIP is confident it can win seats at Holyrood", The Herald, February 15) .

At the last European Parliamentary elections in 2009 UKIP came second in the UK, winning just under 17% of the vote and securing 13 MEPs. In Scotland, however, it came behind the Greens in sixth place with just over 5% of the vote. At the last Scottish Parliamentary election in 2011 UKIP achieved less than 1% of the vote.

While the party has had success south of the Border, where the majority want the UK to leave the EU, in Scotland this position is reversed. While UKIP in England has forced Mr Cameron into an In-Out referendum on UK membership of the EU, its isolationist agenda has only ever seen it inhabit the fringes of Scottish politics, where it is destined to remain.

Alex Orr,

Flat 2, 77 Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh.