THERE are good ecological arguments for running down production of oil and gas as soon as alternatives can be utilised. Labour, however, wants to impose a “windfall tax” on the extraction of petrochemicals in the North sea basin, which will cost jobs in the sector ("Corbyn’s £11bn tax on oil and gas would power a ‘green revolution’", The Herald, November 22).

If Jeremy Corbyn and Labour were in any way genuine, then the City of London, where huge profits are made from the manipulation of money, shares and forecasting gluts and scarcities, and where million pound bonuses are not uncommon, should be their preferred target for a windfall funding scheme. Why isn’t it? And tax havens as well: the Panama Papers scandal was quickly buried and forgotten about. As the robbers said when asked about robbing banks, ¬ "it’s where the money is”. Labour should stop attacking workers’ jobs, and start to get the casino capitalists instead.

GR Weir, Ochiltree.

WHAT does it say about the state of politics in Scotland when the winner of Scotland's Politician of the Year 2019 has presided over calamities throughout this year? ("Sturgeon is crowned The Herald Scottish Politician of the Year for a record fifth time", the Herald, November 22).

Nicola Sturgeon's administration has given the Scottish public poorer education with less choice, frequent health service disasters, inefficient public transport but more and more impediments to driving your own car, higher taxes for most, a poorer economy, a bail-out of business failures at taxpayers' expense and the ultimate folly of the upcoming workplace parking levy, only for some, to name but a few. Who voted positively for all of that? The only poll in 2019 that actually counts is on December 12 when the long-suffering public will get a say. Let's see who really wins then.

Dr Gerald Edwards, Glasgow G77.

ACCORDING to the latest opinion polls Boris Johnson has a commanding 16-point lead (albeit things could change) in the opinion polls ("Tories 16 points ahead of Labour in latest poll", The Herald, November 22) which should mean he would have a clear majority at Westminster to get Brexit done and give companies confidence to start reinvesting again. Indeed Bloomberg has suggested that if this were the case the pound would jump to $1.39.

Given the above scenario where would this leave the SNP’s influence with regard to the new incumbent power at Westminster? Not a lot and here is why.

Common sense tells you that with a committed Unionist party in power at Westminster it would be hard for it to have meaningful discussions with the SNP, whose whole raison d’être and survival depends on it breaking up the Union in every way possible. Under these circumstances the real power would be with Scottish Conservatives but should (in my view) include the Liberal Democrats and Labour who also have Scotland’s best interests at heart.

So it is a nonsense for Nicola Sturgeon to claim that a vote for the SNP is a vote for Scotland or that there is a realistic chance of a rerun of the 2014 referendum. My bet is that Mr Johnson will listen very carefully to all Unionists (the majority) – especially the Conservatives to ensure Scotland regains its mojo.

Ian Lakin, Aberdeen AB13.

IT may be that in the middle of the horrors of the Second World War the work to develop a nuclear weapon of mass destruction might be understood to some extent.

However the idea that a politician, who even dares to hesitate before confirming their willingness to fire such a weapon, which will today kill millions of people, men, women and children and devastate huge areas of land for decades to come, is somehow not up to the job, is utter madness ("Swinson was right to say yes to the nuclear question", The Herald, November 22).

It seems that confronted by the question of would she be prepared to use such a weapon Jo Swinson, who according to herself should be the next Prime Minister of the UK proved her qualification for the post by a straight, unqualified “yes”. This brought her praise from the interviewer for her “brilliant short answer” I’m sure she was delighted with this since it fits in perfectly with the current Westminster madness; but for those of us who retain our wisdom, our political judgement, and a sense of proportion; it tells us that Ms Swinson is entirely unsuitable to be elected to political power since she appears to be likely to be reckless in the use of such power.

Andy Anderson, Saltcoats.

THE Prime Minister's General Election strategy:

1, Avoid grown-ups; 2, If trapped by one, answer a question that wasn't asked; 3, Frequent primary schools where safe to stick to stick up hand at Question Time; 4, Show great delight and compassion to all pets; 5, If run out of primary schools, try nurseries. They might wonder why you're there – but then, so would many of us.

Donald M Manson, Prestwick.

IS there any party that does smirking better than the Tories? From Priti Patel through Jacob Rees-Mogg, Iain Duncan-Smith, Liam Fox, Michael Gove, right up to the Chief Smirker himself, Boris Johnson, does any party do it better? Maybe they should be renamed the Conservative, Unionist and Smirking Party.

John Jamieson, Ayr.

FORMER Liberal leader Lord Steel claims that the introduction of TV cameras in the House of Commons has turned Prime Minister's Questions into a weekly ''insult time'' session ("Lord Steel hits out at spin doctors and TV cameras for undermining debates", The Herald, November 21). He is talking tosh on stilts. TV cameras merely record what is placed in front of them. On questions of morals, protocols or modus operandi cameras are as innocent as new-laid eggs.

Doug Clark, Currie.

I AM amazed how much money can (apparently) be available at election time. I have asked the International Monetary Fund staff to keep their cases packed. We may need them.

Stewart Little, Bridge of Weir.

Read more: Labour plans to hit oil and gas industry with £11bn tax to power its 'green industrial revolution'