A JUDGE says Alastair Carmichael lied about his part in the Sturgeon/Cameron French leak. It must be admitted that the idea that our First Minister really wanted a Tory General Election win led not a few astray, but unsubstantiated promulgation was naughty, let alone the subsequent denial of involvement. Inevitably SNP braves were orchestrated into a war party to pull Mr Carmichael down and out. However, a look at last year's Scotland's Future is a reminder not to dig a hole too deep for escape.

We were promised then that following independence the Bank of England would act as lender of last resort (did anyone ask the bank?) and that oil would sail on at more than $100 per barrel (did anyone ask OPEC/Saudi Arabia?) We were told at this May's General Election that we had 24 hours to vote to end austerity (never mind the annual fiscal deficits and accumulated debt).

Of course, sunny forecasts and political rhetoric are accepted components of getting your party into power, but virulent character assassinations and hounding on the social media leave a feeling of deep unease.

Are our democratic processes at risk from militants striving to achieve their goals at all costs?

Joe Darby,

Glenburn, St Martins Mill, Cullicudden, Dingwall.

"HE that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her". It is gratifying to find at least eight Herald readers who are either without sin or, being in sin, are sufficiently valiant to cast a stone (Letters, December 11.

The thrust of the petition lodged with the Election Court was that Mr Carmichael had breached a penal section of the Representation of the People Act 1983, and, having thereby committed an illegal practice in terms of that section, his election was void.

The two judges of the Election Court, applying the principles laid down in the Act, as they were bound to do, found that Mr Carmichael had not been proved to have committed an illegal practice and that his election was not therefore void.

If Mr Carmichael chooses to stand at the next General Election, those alienated by his conduct in April 2015 will not vote for him; those who have found him to be a vigorous and helpful constituency MP will vote for him.

I think that the electors of Orkney and Shetland will be able to make up their own minds without any lectures in moral philosophy from your readers or from any other source.

John Flett,

Halvard, Dundas Crescent, Kirkwall, Orkney.

THE Carmichael case has done us all a favour. It has confirmed what every mature and intelligent voter already knew: you cannot trust politicians to tell the truth on every occasion, and therefore everything that they tell us should be approached with a healthy scepticism.

Who in post-referendum Scotland would've thunk it?

Peter A Russell,

87 Munro Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow.