AS those who have abandoned Labour for the SNP queue up, with all the zeal of the converted, to kick the Labour Party, it seems that any distortion of the truth, whether "suppressio veri" or "suggestio falsi", will do. The word "Nationalism", however, is usually conspicuous by its absence, but that is what separates the SNP, which promises to privilege the concerns of Scots over the concerns of everyone else in the UK, from the Labour Party, rooted in the idea of the strength which derives from uniting with our fellow human beings in striving to achieve social justice for the greatest number, irrespective of any identity tag.

To anyone who was politically aware, it should have been obvious that, for the SNP ever to reach its strategic goal of "that which transcends everything", it had to destroy Labour in Scotland. It was so obvious, in fact, that it could have been seen by someone, as the Scottish saying goes, "wi' a gless ee and a treacle yin".

With its eyes wide open in 2015, the Scottish electorate rejected the only alternative to the Conservatives at Westminster. It voted en masse for the SNP, which had zero chance of forming a government and whose MPs were destined for the opposition benches, where they are impotent in effecting any real change on behalf of their constituents, no matter how much they posture.

SNP supporters constantly complaining now about either the stripe of the Westminster Government or the delivery of its manifesto promises (for example, an in/out referendum on EU membership) is as good an example of chutzpah as the more well-known example, where a defendant who has murdered his mother and father asks the court to show mercy because he is an orphan.

A McCulloch,

16 South Street. Mintlaw, Aberdeenshire.

WILLIAM Paterson (Letters, February 16) is spot on in his analysis of Ruth Davidson and her hypocritical stance on the European Union. I would add that during the independence referendum, Ms Davidson repeatedly assured us that only a No vote could safeguard Scotland's position within the EU. She got that one badly wrong, but has not uttered so much as a word of apology or contrition for misleading the Scottish electorate.

Ms Davidson's advice, like her principles, would appear to have a distinctly chameleon-like quality, but it is starkly obvious that no matter how she may try to distance herself from the big boss in London, it is Theresa May who dictates Conservative policy and Ms Davidson has to jump when the Westminster strings are pulled.

Ruth Marr,

99 Grampian Road, Stirling.

PETER Wylie claims that “a lot” of people in the SNP would not want to win a second referendum and be landed with the problem of managing an independent Scotland. Apart from his personal wishes, is the any objective evidence for this sweeping claim? And just what does he think the raison d’etre of the SNP is?

He also wants a third option, namely a choice of re-joining the Union. That would be a wonder indeed. Scotland would be the only nation in the world to get its independence from Westminster, and then ask to be allowed back under its control again. Still, there’s always a first time - in his dreams.

Presumably we would also beg to have the biggest arsenal of hydrogen bombs in Europe dumped on us again. All because we are too stupid to manage our own affairs, unlike Estonia or Malta or Poland or any other modern European democracy. Maybe it’s something in the water.

Not for him the inspiring words of the Declaration of Arbroath “For as long as 100 of us remain alive, we will never under any condition, be brought under English rule”.

Brian M Quail,

2 Hyndland Avenue, Glasgow.