Considering Des Browne is apparently trying to fight the perception that Westminster Labour is a bully, his latest attack on the Holyrood minority administration was very ill-judged.

He may well think that the SNP government is "shoddy" and/or "ridiculous", as he is quoted as saying in Michael Settle's article (April 7). However, his pontificating has very little basis in reality.

His latest outburst was ostensibly on the proposed local income tax. Should Holyrood decide that such a system will replace the unfair council tax, his government is intending to pinch £400m of Scottish taxpayers' money. Clearly, this is a case of the Westminster administration attempting to pocket a large portion of Scottish local authorities' "dinner money", despite the knock-on consequences on services.

Moreover, it is equally indefensible for a supposedly socialist party - if Wendy Alexander is to be believed - to oppose a shift from a notional service- and property-based taxation system to an income-based approach. The level of hypocrisy involved in Labour's recent posturing is shown to be truly exceptional when its rhetoric is contrasted with the doubling of income tax for the poorest in our society. Taking into account recent polling, which probably prompted Mr Browne's extraordinary tantrum to some degree, I think the part-time Scottish Secretary would be well advised to set his own house in order before rushing to pass judgment on Holyrood. After all, he, too, will be judged - at the ballot box.

Patrick Kirkwood, West Kilbride.